Spotlight on: West Mercia Women's Aid

“I have been a military wife for a number of years, during that time I have been subjected to emotional and physical domestic abuse. I tried to leave the relationship for almost 2 years – it was so unbelievably hard to do this because as a military wife I felt trapped. I gave up my independence to support my partner’s career.”

“I have been a military wife for a number of years, during that time I have been subjected to emotional and physical domestic abuse. I tried to leave the relationship for almost 2 years – it was so unbelievably hard to do this because as a military wife I felt trapped. I gave up my independence to support my partner’s career.”

Leoni Bryan, Project Co-ordinator at West Mercia Women’s Aid’s (WMWA) in Herefordshire, commits her time to ensuring partners, female serving soldiers and others within the military community have somewhere safe to turn if they’re experiencing domestic abuse. “There’s a lot of barriers to accessing support. What we’re so excited about with this project is the ability to break down those barriers and, if we haven’t already found a pathway, we’ve got the absolute support of so many local agencies to work through those issues.” 

With the help of funding through our Free from Fear programme, WMWA’s Penelope Project is expanding into Shropshire, creating a network of ambassadors – women who can provide advice and signposting to anyone with a concern. Developing good relationships with the garrison has been vital and has taken time. The welfare teams play an important role, as do other agencies. 

Leoni explains: “We’ve got such a fantastic link with [Herefordshire Housing] where they’ll take a supporting letter from West Mercia Women’s Aid or the Unit Welfare Officer, to replace the need to show a utility bill, council tax or a landlord reference to set up social housing. Three years ago, they wouldn’t have accepted that.” 

There is a sizeable Foreign & Commonwealth community in the area which brings with it additional pressures for those suffering domestic abuse. Control is a major issue, and when visas and immigration challenges are placed in the mix, it can be even more difficult for women trying to leave an abusive situation. 

Helen Richardson, head of client services at WMWA, tells us: “We’ve supported quite a lot of clients who have come over on a spousal visa, related to their partner, and that’s such an additional tool or tactic that can be used [against them]; they don’t know what their rights are. 

“Your visa situation shouldn’t be used as a tactic by a perpetrator.” 

In fact, around 50% of the women they support are from ethnic minorities. 

One woman reached out to the Unit Welfare Officer who redirected her to the WMWA drop-in clinic. Leoni has worked with her on and off for three years, and she’s now got Indefinite Leave to Remain. “It was such a team effort to get all of this in place and now she’s happy, healthy with her three children.”