History of West Cork Women Against Violence Project
West Cork Women Against Violence Project was started up as a community response to violence against women and children in West Cork. It was a joint programme between West Cork and Beara Women’s Network and the Community Resource Centre in Bantry. Funding was secured from the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs in 1998 for a Special Project Worker to work with the Community Resource Centre on the issue of violence against women and domestic violence.
During the first year the Special Project Worker, along with nine other women from the community formed a working group to look at what services were not available but needed in West Cork for women and their children living in or having left a violent relationship. They decided to set up a confidential support service, run by trained volunteers, working under a Community Development ethos. West Cork Women Against Violence Project was formed to provide a confidential support, listening and information service and was run by trained volunteers. The formal launch of the service occurred on the 8th of April 2000 at the Courthouse in Bantry. The launch involved an exhibition entitled “Once is too much” developed by the women of St. Michael’s Estate, Inchicore, Dublin. The speakers at the launch included Nell McCafferty. By April 2000 funding was secured from the Southern Regional Committee on Violence Against Women (SRCVAW) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). In June 2000 an Outreach service was started in Skibbereen. By June 2001, we moved to our own outreach office in Skibbereen. In September 2000 a quarterly newsletter called the West Cork Whisper was launched. The paper provides information on legal issues, articles on social welfare rights, women’s own personal stories, and useful telephone numbers as well as information on contacting support services. The paper has a circulation of 2,000.
In November 2000 the West Cork Women Against Violence Project found premises to share with the Carer’s group at the Round Tower in Bantry. The project employed its first Support and Development Worker. In June 2001 funding was obtained for a part time administrator. As a result the project office in Bantry could open every weekday from 10am to 1pm. The management committee initially appointed a Senior Support and Development worker to co-ordinate the services. In 2001 a new post of co-ordinator was created. An additional post of support and development worker was created in July 2003. The project has gone from strength to strength; there was a 55% increase in contacts from women in 2005 compared to 2004. The project now employs four part-time staff, and offers court accompaniment, training and awareness-raising for schools, community groups and professionals, in addition to listening, support and information for women experiencing domestic violence. We also contribute to policy formation by participating at local, regional and national level using an interagency approach and are affiliated to the National Network and Womens’ Refuges and Support Services. In November 2007, we moved to newer and larger premises in Bantry.
