Women's Aid in Luton

Who we are

Women’s Aid in Luton (WAIL) has its roots in the feminist movement of the 1970s, which developed women’s refuges as safe places for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. We have been delivering psychological and traumanformed services to meet the needs of women and child survivors of domestic abuse for 50 years and are placed at the heart of the Luton community, working in partnership with health, statutory and voluntary sector services to ensure that no women and children in Luton lives in fear. All our support services are delivered with patience, compassion, empathy, respect, and dignity.

Our aims are to provide:

• Refuge accommodation where women and children may feel safe and receive protection from abuse and persecution;
• Support to access medical care, advice and treatment, legal advice and counselling for adults and their children who have suffered injury or impairment to their physical or mental health or have been seriously threatened with the same;
• Community support via our Domestic Abuse Helpline and resettlement services;
• Training and education opportunities for survivors of domestic abuse;
• Campaigns to raise the profile of the impact of domestic abuse and highlight the need for further support services.

We are a trusted and well-established survivors’ support service and provide unique, tailored and flexible services, utilising person-centred approaches (taking a culturally sensitive approach to under-represented, minority or racialised communities) that bring survivors on a journey towards self-empowerment.

Our culture and values

Our values influence the way we operate as an organisation, both as a service provider and as an employer in meeting the needs experienced by survivors of domestic abuse who have been persistently maltreated, suffered physical, emotional, financial and/or sexual abuse.  Our core values guide everything that we do:

Diversity and inclusion: We value difference and know that we cannot achieve our vision without proactively working to dismantle systemic racism and discrimination.

Collaboration:  We believe in working with women survivors, other organisations, specialist services and supporters to drive change.

Advocacy: As experts in the field of gender-based  abuse, we want to be able to use our voice and influence to magnify the voices of women and children experiencing abuse and exploitation.

Innovation: We are committed to seeking new solutions to some of the long-standing, pervasive problems associated with gender-based abuse and exploitation, as well as new or emerging issues. Wherever possible, we want to explore new ideas and co-create innovative interventions to improve outcomes for women, and their children.

Our values influence the way we operate as an organisation, both as a service provider and as an employer in meeting the needs experienced by victims/survivors of domestic abuse who have been persistently maltreated, suffered physical, emotional, financial and/or sexual abuse.  Our core values guide everything that we do:

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Women's Aid in Luton is committed to ensuring that our services are accessible, inclusive and that they challenge stigma, ageism, racism, and discrimination facing vulnerable women and their children (Equality Act 2010, Paragraph 27 of Schedule 3 of the Act).

We believe that everyone has the right to be accepted and feel safely integrated within their community, living free from threats and fear.

We  work with diverse communities and challenge discrimination when we see it. We have a diverse staff team encompassing a variety of ethnic and faith backgrounds.