Domestic abuse survivors in Warrington given new lifeline

coffee-chat
 

Domestic abuse charity, My CWA (formerly Cheshire Without Abuse) is enhancing Cheshire’s domestic abuse support network with the launch of a new peer support group. Taking place every Monday (1–3pm), Coffee & Chat provides a lifeline to women in the Warrington area who’ve experienced domestic abuse.

As the group name – Coffee & Chat – suggests, women are invited to share friendly conversation over a good brew in a safe, female-only space. But there’s more. Through a series of informal bite-sized sessions, women are invited to discuss topics such as:

  • Domestic abuse awareness

  • Emotional wellbeing

  • Identity

  • Children and behaviour

  • Communication skills

  • Dealing with anger

My CWA’s Bethan Taylor facilitates the group and wants to reach out to as many domestic abuse survivors in Warrington as she can. “We know that victims of domestic abuse can become isolated from friends and family and feel like they have no-one to talk to,” she says. “Through Coffee & Chat, we want to help domestic abuse survivors to build their network of support – and eventually recover from their experiences,” Bethan adds.

One group member, who wishes to remain anonymous, has found the support from Coffee & Chat invaluable: “I was really anxious about meeting new people, but the first time I went to Coffee & Chat, Bethan arranged to meet me at the entrance so I didn’t have to go up to the room alone – and that made me feel welcome straight away,” she says. “It’s just a small group of women who’ve been through the same thing as me and as soon as I realised that, I felt kind of at home,” she adds.

Funded by Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner – in partnership with the probation service and community rehabilitation company (CRC) – it is hoped that Coffee & Chat Warrington mirrors the success of My CWA’s already established groups, which have helped thousands of women affected by domestic abuse in the Crewe & Nantwich and Macclesfield areas.

“Since launching Coffee & Chat in Crewe in 2009 and then Macclesfield in 2019, we’ve helped thousands of women throughout Cheshire and we want women in Warrington to have the same kind of support in place,” says My CWA chief executive, Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie. “If you’ve been affected by domestic abuse and you live in Warrington or nearby, we’d love you to join us,” she adds.

Women who want to attend Coffee & Chat can just turn up at 1pm on Mondays, but it helps with logistics if you get in touch in advance. Email info@mycwa.org.uk or call 01270 250390 if you can. Anyone with specific accessibility requirements is advised to contact My CWA in advance to ensure their needs are met.

If you’re a professional working with someone you’d like to refer to Coffee & Chat, please complete the downloadable referral form – Coffee & Chat – and email it to referrals@mycwa.org.uk

The venue address is: The Gateway, 89 Sankey St, Cheshire, Warrington WA1 1SR and our Warrington support group runs every Monday between 1pm and 3pm. If you can’t make it on Mondays, check out our Coffee & Chat page for details of other groups.

 
Saskia