About Women’s Aid Monmouthshire

Women’s Aid Monmouthshire started life in November 1978 when a public meeting was held between Abergavenny Women’s Studies Group and Welsh Women’s Aid.

1979 saw Abergavenny Women’s Aid begin to give information and support to women experiencing domestic abuse. Operating from a GP surgery in Abergavenny, the group was run entirely by volunteers.

1989 was the year that the group became a limited company and funding was secured for 2 part time Refuge Workers. A local authority house was obtained to serve as a refuge in 1992. The refuge moved to a purpose built house owned by the Charter Housing Association in 1994.

The 1990s was a busy period, seeing funding secured for a Child Worker, a Finance Worker, and two Outreach Workers. These were followed in more recent years by the addition of a Youth Worker, Information Worker, Funding Worker, and Research and Development Worker.

In 2000 the group changed its name to Women’s Aid Monmouthshire to reflect the growth in service. Our expansion would not have been possible without the generous support of the Charter Housing Association, and our funders: the Welsh Assembly, Monmouthshire County Council, Blaenau Gwent County Council, the National Lottery Charities Board, Children in Need, Comic Relief, the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, Lloyds TSB Foundations, Nationwide Foundation and The Henry Smith Charity