Domestic abuse charity celebrates 50th anniversary

A domestic abuse charity is celebrating 50 years of helping the local community.

Berkshire Women's Aid (BWA) started as a single safehouse in Reading and has now grown to five refuges across the county as well as a wealth of programmes to tackle the issue.

The charity is trying to raise £50,000 to celebrate the milestone, and is hosting a ball in September to raise money as well as awareness of the charity.

Chief executive Alix Simpson said: "We very much want people to know that BWA is here for you no matter [who you are]."

Ms Simpson said BWA offered a range of services, including refuges, community outreach and a programme for children and young people, and services for perpetrators of domestic abuse.

"[That] surprises some people," she said.

"But that's very much around actually trying to break the cycle... and actually looking at rather than it being the victim or the survivors to have to change their lives, that actually perpetrators change their behaviours and stop doing what they're doing."

One woman helped by BWA, who the BBC is not naming, said the charity offered her the non-judgemental support she needed to get out of her "awful" situation at home.

"I just thought it was a rocky relationship, but then it got to, 'you can't go out with your friends', 'you're a bad mum', 'you're not having money to go out'," she said.

"[BWA] helped me realise that I need to get away from that relationship, and get my children away from that relationship."

She now volunteers with BWA to help women like her.

"I'm passionate which is why I'm now doing volunteering," she said.

"I want to tell my story."

• If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line to access help and support

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