Earlier this year, CWA was awarded £7,000 from The Cambridge Building Society Community Fund to provide financial assistance to 12 women moving out of emergency refuge. The funding ensures survivors can purchase essential items – from beds and cookers to curtains and carpets – giving them dignity, stability, and a sense of pride in their new homes.
Applications for the fund are now open and can be made twice a year via the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.
Cambridge Women’s Aid has been supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse since 1977. The charity provides safe accommodation, specialist advice, and practical support to help families recover from trauma and take steps toward a safer future.
Angie Stewart, Chief Executive Officer at Cambridge Women’s Aid, said:
“Experiencing domestic abuse strips so much away – your sense of self, your resources, your ability to live independently. Starting again is daunting, and for many women leaving refuge, it can feel overwhelming to face an empty home with very little to put inside.”
“This grant means we can make sure those women and children don’t have to go without. Having a proper bed to sleep in, curtains for privacy, a cooker to make meals – these are the basics that turn a house into a home. It allows families to move forward with dignity, knowing they are cared for and supported as they start anew.”
“Often, the women we support are amazed that anybody cares enough to provide these things for them. It’s about showing them they matter. When children can invite friends over, when a woman can cook in her own kitchen, when a family can sit down together in their own space – that’s when recovery really begins.
“We are incredibly grateful to The Cambridge for this support. It helps us give women not just a new home, but the best possible start to a new life.”
Many survivors are reliant on benefits when leaving refuge, making it difficult to cover the cost of essential household items. The funding ensures homes are fit for purpose, welcoming, and somewhere families can feel safe and proud of.
Katie Robinson, Community Engagement Specialist at The Cambridge, said:
“Cambridge Women’s Aid has been a cornerstone of our community for decades, and their work remains as vital today as when they began. Survivors of domestic abuse deserve safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives.
“We’re proud to support CWA in making that possible, and we encourage other charities and community groups to apply for funding through our Community Fund, which is open now.”
Learn more about The Cambridge Building Society Community Fund and how to apply:
www.cambridgebs.co.uk/more/making-the-difference/the-cambridge-building-society-community-fund
Find out more about Cambridge Women’s Aid at:
https://cambridgewa.org.uk/
Image: Angie Stewart, Chief Executive Officer at Cambridge Women’s Aid
