Luton All Women Centre

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower vulnerable women/girls from Luton and Bedfordshire to lead lives that are safer, healthier and fairer, while also taking action to challenge wider societal concerns around gendered violence, mental health and inequality.

We want to see Luton and Bedfordshire become a place where:

- Violence/ abuse against women and girls is prevented wherever possible (e.g. through early intervention and community-based educational work) - All women/ girls affected by trauma are effectively supported to recover from the impacts of such experiences (particularly around their mental health and socio-economic circumstances), avoid repeat victimisation and successfully move forward with their lives. - Our community feels protected now and in the future (e.g. through easily accessible services for women plus the 'butterfly effect' impacts on others like their dependents) - People and organisations work together to create a wider understanding and better response to violence against women/ girls and mental health across our region.

We now work intensively with over 1000 women/ girls per year, the vast majority of which have experiences of domestic violence/abuse and/or similar trauma (e.g. harmful practices, historic child sexual abuse or sexual exploitation). All are dealing with severe impacts of trauma, particularly around their mental health, safety, confidence, family and personal relationships, and future prospects. At Luton All Women's Centre, they can find the solace, strength and opportunity they need to make positive change in their lives.

Our main objective, therefore, is to deliver a wide range of specialist services which tackle these issues and their consequences at the earliest opportunity (including prevention work). This includes providing: a domestic abuse/ trauma response service (1-1 and group support); professional counselling (supported by volunteers); a range of health and wellbeing services; a harmful practices service; 'The Women's Academy' (our employability project); access to practical advice, resources, advocacy and legal surgeries; plus several peer groups which support recovery and reduce isolation. This work usually takes place within our women-only centre. However, after making necessary adaptations during the pandemic, we now provide a blend of remote and in-person services, in line with our clients' preferences.

Typically, our clients access several areas of support over around 18 months, at which point they are usually able to make lasting positive changes such a building a stable family life and progressing with other goals around their future such as pursuing education or employment aspirations.

Over the last five years, LAWC has significantly advanced its scope beyond direct beneficiary support to increase our societal impact. Locally, we are taking a leading role in tackling gender inequality; introducing innovative solutions around trauma, DVA, mental health, poverty and other key issues affecting women/girls; and are working hard to improve early intervention/ prevention approaches in and around Luton. Examples of how we do this include providing educational/training activities for our clients, young people, key professionals and local employers; working with partners on local policy/campaigns; and spearheading a trauma-informed approach within the local mental health framework.