About Us

Aylesbury Women’s Aid is a charity and company limited by guarantee, working with and on behalf of women and children who are or have lived with domestic violence.  We were set up in 1986 by a small group of women who were concerned that there was no provision for women experiencing abuse by their partners.

Over the years we have developed from a very small start, with only volunteers to run a five-bedroom refuge.   You can find out more about our history here.  We now have 17 full and part time staff members, with a broad base of good practice and policies to work with.  We offer a range of services from a purpose-built refuge rented from a housing association as well as a smaller property owned by Aylesbury Women’s Aid, with the capacity to hold 14 families/single women.  We also offer outreach, Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) and counselling services from an office in Aylesbury Town Centre that clients can visit.  This also includes the Freedom Programme, helping women who experienced domestic violence make sense of and understand what has happened to them, as well a range of support services for children and young people, who have been affected by domestic violence.

We work from a feminist perspective and are committed to the principle of self-help, encouraging women to determine their own futures, making information available in an accessible way and supporting women to make their own choices.

The purpose of Aylesbury Women’s Aid is:

“To exist for the benefit of all women and their children who are or have experienced physical, mental, emotional, financial or sexual abuse in their relationships and to offer support, information, advice, access to temporary safe accommodation and aftercare”

The services are based on five principles:

1. The abused woman is of central importance.
2. The need to empower women and enable them to regain control. Women’s Aid services are provided by women and for women.
3. The value of the mutual support of other women who have similar experience.
4. A commitment to caring for the emotional, developmental and educational needs of children affected by domestic violence.
5. An open-door policy.

All women who would like to use the services are welcome, regardless of those with or without children, age, class, ethnic origin, disability, sexuality, nationality, religion or cultural beliefs.

Aylesbury Women’s Aid operates in the Vale of Aylesbury, which covers the towns of Aylesbury and Buckingham and the surrounding villages.  See Map for the areas we cover.

Aylesbury Women’s Aid is affiliated to the Women’s Aid Federation (England) which was established for the benefit of abused women and their children mindful of the fact that domestic violence is a result of the general position of women in society.  We have attained the Women’s Aid national quality standard, recognising the provision of high quality specialist domestic violence support services.

If you are an agency and you would like to make a referral to the services please complete an agency referral form.

Complaints and Comments

All complaints and comments about AWA’s services will be taken seriously. If you would like to make a complaint or comment please contact the Head of Services of Aylesbury Women’s Aid on 01296 436827 or use the contact us form to send us a message and request the relevant forms and information.  If you would like a copy of our full complaints policy, please contact us on either of the methods outlined above.

Charity No: 1054308

Company Limited by Guarantee: 03155260