The Bridge Project comes to Lliw Valley, thanks to the Big Lottery Fund

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» The Bridge Project comes to Lliw Valley, thanks to the Big Lottery Fund

Women affected by domestic abuse living in the Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Powys and Carmarthenshire are set to benefit from a major windfall from the Big Lottery Fund Stepping Stones programme.

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The Bridge Project comes to Lliw Valley, thanks to the Big Lottery Fund

29 Jan 2008

Women affected by domestic abuse living in the Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Powys and Carmarthenshire are set to benefit from a major windfall from the Big Lottery Fund Stepping Stones programme.

Lliw Valley Women’s Aid has been awarded five year funding of £980,467 to open The Bridge Project, an outreach and drop in centre for women affected by domestic abuse.

For the first time Lliw Valley Women’s Aid can provide new services for women without referral criteria that are linked to geographical boundaries or housing support.

Uniquely the project aims to provide drop in facilities, information, advice surgeries, life skills sessions, and core programmes such as assertiveness, confidence building and domestic abuse awareness. It is hoped that the services offered will increase women’s self esteem and equip them to feel more confident to make their own life choices and provide support to explore and engage in volunteering, training and work opportunities.

Cath Preece, Chair Lliw Valley Women’s Aid said " We are very excited to receive this grant from the Big Lottery Stepping Stones Fund, the development of The Bridge Project can now become a reality, we have been planning this service over the past two years following the identification of gaps in service delivery"

Barriers that reduce the likelihood of women using The Bridge Project were identified during the consultation such as lack of suitable transport, childcare and lack of self confidence.

To increase women’s ability to access The Bridge Project transport costs will be reimbursed and child supervision will be available for mothers who are attending group sessions. An outreach service will be available for women who wish to use the project but require 1-1 support to develop the confidence to attend independently.

Paula Hardy, Director said "Consultation with service users was instrumental in the development of the Big Lottery Fund Stepping Stones bid, their input helped to shape and plan how the service could be delivered to meet their needs. The Bridge Project aims to fill a gap within local Domestic Abuse Services, we are very grateful to receive the award and expect the project to offer drop in services from the middle of April and to be fully operational from June 2008. I will be working closely with external agencies over the next few months to promote the aims and activities of The Bridge Project".