Every year the work of Clare Haven is varied and busy. We run intervention programmes, prevention programmes and education programmes in order to go some way to alleviate our community of the scourge of domestic abuse. We provide refuge for women, young people and children who must flee. We provide outreach clinics in six towns across the county for women who are not in a position to leave or have left and require the supports to navigate their new world. The crisis elements: helpline 0656822435, refuge 6 Family Units and outreach clinics remain the constant most pressing elements of our work. It can always be described as being busy, and the demand unwavering. The last 20 months were very challenging.

During the Covid crisis, perpetrators increased their violent, abusive and aggressive behaviours. At this time, some men who had previously resisted such tendencies acted upon them. During this time some women and children were suffering even more so at the hands of the men in their lives, while other women and children were subjected to abuse for the first time. The story of Clare Haven throughout the pandemic in 2020/21 was to react and respond to the increases in the demand for our own service provision.

Service Provision                                                           2020 % increase on 2019

Admission to Refuge                                                     Women 21%

Admission to Refuge                                                     Children 35%

Helpline Calls                                                                                   21%

Women who availed of outreach support                                 25%

Number of Child Counselling Sessions                                        30%

Clare Haven Services has wonderful and committed staff that make up the teams who carry out the day to day work of the service. It is the compassion, empathy, professionalism and strength of these teams that have supported women as they live with, as they leave or as they move on from being subjected to domestic abuse. We are with the woman at whatever point she is and as she navigates her life through this experience. Our staff provide a non-judgemental, non-directive service, in support of the women’s and children’s needs. All donated unrestricted funding from initiatives such as this go towards service provision for women and children subjected to domestic abuse. 

The 16 Days of Action

The 16 Days of Action Campaign is an important opportunity to raise awareness and call for changes at an international, national and local level to make women and children safe from abuse. The campaign runs from 25th November (UN Day For the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10th December 2021 (Human Rights Day)