Her Centre is a small local women’s charity based in Greenwich, providing services to women and girls in Greenwich.
Our vision is to eradicate violence against women and girls.
Our Mission Statement
To engage, enable and empower women to move away from abuse, and to move forward with their lives.
Our Value Statement
Her centre is a women-focused, woman led organisation. We believe that domestic and sexual abuse must be tackled both by empowering women and acknowledging the societal inequality that perpetuates and legitimises violence.
We are resilient and inspire resilience in the women we support.
Her Centre is a safe place where women can be listened to and believed in an environment of trust and respect.
Her Centre works with over 1000 women a year.
In the last year ending in March 2023, we engaged 856 women who experienced domestic or sexual abuse, providing safety planning, legal support, and help with accessing emergency housing and with practical issues such as money and immigration.
103 took up our counselling & support group service to address the trauma of abuse.
119 attended our basic English classes that are free, and for women only, so feel safe.
60 women and men attended our 2 annual open forums, themed on;
- Women with Disabilities-Leaving trouble behind
- Cost of Living Crisis: What you need to know
We held two training and information days to link women into courses with 74 attending.
We also held a holiday celebration in December for 107 women and children.
From our exit surveys of women who have experienced abuse based on those from April 2022 to March 2023.
- 89% said their risk had reduced
- 93% felt safer
- 95% know their rights, and where to get help again if they need it.
Her Centre has received SAFE LIVES (formerly CAADA) accreditation as a quality IDVA service, and is committed to training all our IDVA staff in a formal IDVA/ISVA qualification.
We have renewed Safe Lives until 2025.
We are holding Investors in People.
We work enthusiastically in partnership with a large number of Greenwich-based agencies to ensure women receive the most appropriate local support they require.
One-Stop Shop:
We lead the weekly One Stop Shop for women experiencing domestic abuse alongside Solicitors from Hudgell & Partners & National Legal Service. For more information click below.
All Women Welcome – Lesbian, Straight, Bi-Sexual, and Trans. (General Flyer)
Men Experiencing Abuse can Contact Respect at – https://www.respect.org.uk/
Young People’s Project:
Young People’s project targeting relationship abuse supports 13-19-year-old girls. For more information about the project, please email info@hercentre.org.
A short video on our Young Girls Project, which supports young people in healthy relationships.
Her Centre User Steering Group:
The user steering group is open to all the Her Centre service users and to any women in Greenwich who have experienced abuse and want to influence local services.
Our meetings are a mix of speakers that we can question about how they support women (such as police borough commander, director of children’s social services) and debates on issues that affect women such as child contact, challenging harassment, and building a career.
Meetings also consult and review feedback on services in the borough run by Her Centre and Greenwich DVA.
Steering group meetings every other month on a Monday at 12 pm. Contact Stacy Smith for details
If you are interested in joining our steering group please contact Stacy Smith at, stacy@hercentre.org.
Training:
Our training is supported by Greenwich Local Labour and Business, MOSA, City Lit, and Social Action for Health.
Advice:
Providing drop-in advice on domestic abuse and family law, open every Friday and Wednesday from 10 am to 12 pm, with a solicitor and IDVA giving advice.
See our One Stop Shop, for more information.
Greenwich Equalities Forum:
We are part of the Greenwich Equalities Forum with Metro Centre (for the LGBT community), MARAC & Steering Group, Greenwich Association of the Disabled, AgeUK Bromley and Greenwich, and Greenwich Inclusion Project (GRIP).
VAWG:
We are members of the Multi Agency Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Forum, VAWG Strategic Board, Greenwich Community Advice Network, Child Safeguarding Prevention Group, the Greenwich Homelessness Forum and Greenwich Action for Voluntary Service (GAVS) forums.
Met Police Community Safety Unit:
Additionally, we work closely with the Met Police Community Safety Unit, the SCD2 Unit, The Point, Best Beginnings, Stephen Lawrence Centre, Volunteer Centre Greenwich, Greenwich Housing Rights, Family Information Service, Meridian Money Advice, Greenwich Credit Union, Woolwich CAB, Plumstead Law Centre, Greenwich Health Visitors, Mind in Greenwich, Greenwich PCT, Advocacy in Greenwich, CAMHS, Oxleas, and Rt. Hon. Matthew Pennycook MP and Rt. Hon. Teresa Pearce MP.
Her Centre has a small staff team and a board of volunteer trustees.
Here is a link to our latest accounts.