Our Purpose

We passionately believe that all women and children have a right to feel safe and secure and to live free from all forms of abuse and violence.

We offer practical help, emotional support and/or a temporary safe place to be, supporting women to rebuild their lives. We run a dedicated Helpline and are committed to raising awareness of domestic abuse and its effects within the community.

One of our refuges is specifically for women from South Asian communities supported by staff who speak Punjabi, Bengali and Urdu. We also have a refuge accommodating women with complex needs.

We passionately believe that all women and children have a right to live free from abuse and violence.

Feminist Principles

At Women’s Aid Luton we recognise that while domestic abuse can be experienced by a range of people, it is gendered and is most frequently perpetrated against women by male perpetrators. We recognise that domestic abuse happens within the context of patriarchy and we use our platform to challenge this.

We are a feminist organisation and recognise that sex and gender based oppression intersects with other systems of oppression. Power and control underpin all forms of oppression, and we recognise the need to recognise our own privilege to be able to challenge oppression as a movement of women.

Our Values

Our values define who we are and shape our organisational behaviour and decision-making. They influence our every action and interaction, when dealing with both internal and external contacts. All staff are expected to live these values on a day to day basis, and they should be reflected across our business planning and daily practices.

Collaboration – We believe in working with women survivors, other organisations, specialist services and supporters to drive change. This commitment will see us seeking opportunities to learn from, and engage with, service users and partner with others to ensure any woman approaching us for support is able to access the help she needs.

Advocacy – As experts in the field of gender-based domestic abuse, we want to be able to use our voice and
influence to magnify the voices of women and children experiencing abuse and exploitation.

Innovation – We are committed to seeking new solutions to some of the long-standing, pervasive problems associated with gender-based abuse and exploitation, as well as new or emerging issues. Wherever possible, we want to explore new ideas and co-create innovative interventions to improve outcomes for women, and their children.

Diversity & Inclusion – We value difference and know that we cannot achieve our vision without proactively working to dismantle systemic racism and discrimination. We recognise our role in championing equity for all.

Through our work and how we conduct ourselves as an organisation, we challenge ourselves, and others, to practice in an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory way and develop professional cultures that recognise and challenge oppression in all forms. We will promote inclusion and ensure we are working towards establishing the right of all to access help and support that acknowledges, respects and values individual lived experiences.

To demonstrate this commitment, we have signed up to the VAWG Anti-Racism Charter.