Domestic Abuse, F.G.M. (Female Genital Mutilation), Forced Marriage, Honour Violence
Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham

Tel: 0800-731 8147

Website: https://bawso.org.uk/

Address: Head Office Cardiff 9 Cathedral Road Cardiff CF11 9HA

Opening times: 24hrs

BAWSO opened its office in Wrexham in May 2006 following careful consideration of research findings on the needs of BME women living in North Wales entitled ‘Hidden Needs - Transparent Agenda'. From the moment the BAWSO office opened, the extent of the need became apparent. The proportion of individual cases displaying prolonged and serious violence was not anticipated and the number of referrals was almost three times what was anticipated as a high maximum. Since 2006 more than 1000 service users have been supported on different projects.
The Wrexham office was further developed into the One Stop Shop in order to meet the increasing demand for services. This provision offers exceptional opportunity to for multiple agencies to effectively respond to the needs of the ever growing number of new female immigrants, particularly those from Eastern Europe and travellers. The One Stop Shop has attended to 3142 annually since it opened its doors.
The aims of the One Stop Shop are to:
• Make policy and service responses to difficult areas of violence against women such as trafficking, forced marriage and marital rape easier to develop and orchestrate.
• Offer a point which statutory and other bodies can acquire insight and experience of the needs of these BME women and their communities.
• Strengthen the vital provision of readily available translation services and provide access to specialist help in the fields of drug and alcohol abuse, mental health and psychiatric services.
• Facilitate a more coherent assault in overcoming rural isolation, on working with schools and colleges, and establish a centre for knowledge and good practice.