Drogheda Women’s & Children’s Refuge (DWCR) is proud to announce the release of its Annual Report for 2023. The official launch will take place on 24 September 2024 at 9:00 AM in the Dolls House, Drogheda, marking another important year in our ongoing efforts to support women and children affected by domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV).
The report provides an in-depth overview of the challenges, achievements, and strategic advancements made throughout the year. Key highlights include:
- 14,166 service interventions were carried out with women up 12% from 2022. Key areas of support included Safety & Abuse Work, Legal, Housing, Financial and Mental Health Support
- 62 women and 63 children were admitted to the refuge for crisis accommodation.
- Expanded Community Outreach Supports,
- 494, 1:1 Support sessions provided by Community Outreach, double that of 2022
- 124 Court Accompaniments were made, an increase of 60% from 2022
- 187 women received legal/court support, and 124 court orders were sought.
- Expanded children’s services
- 1,514 individual play sessions provided to 62 children
- We established evening and weekend supports for children with the Children’s Activity Worker
- The development of The courAGEus project for young people in the community enabling us to reach 124 participants from September to December in 2023
- The launch of Sexual Violence Services in Meath and an extension in Drogheda, offering comprehensive support to survivors of sexual violence.
- Successful application to the Dept. of Justice for The Safe Harbour Project, providing outreach education and awareness programmes to migrant women
- The introduction of a Freephone Helpline in September 2023, improving access to our essential services for women without having to have phone credit.
- 686 helpline calls were responded to, providing crucial one-to-one support to women.
Susan Keogh, CEO of Drogheda Women’s & Children’s Refuge, expressed optimism about the ongoing progress:
“2023 was an important year for DWCR as we continued our mission to support women and children in crisis. With new service expansions and the launch of our Freephone Helpline, we have been able to reach even more women and children in the community. The introduction of CUAN by the Department of Justice later this year signifies a national commitment to tackling DSGBV, and we look forward to working closely with them in 2024 to drive societal change.”
The Annual Report also highlights our dedication to enhancing its governance, service delivery, and community engagement efforts. These milestones reflect DWCR’s commitment to ensuring that no woman or child faces violence alone.
For further information on the Annual Report or the launch event, please contact:
Susan Keogh, CEO
Email: manager@droghedarefuge.org
Phone: 041 9847262 – 085 8030731
About Drogheda Women’s & Children’s Refuge:
Drogheda Women’s & Children’s Refuge Centre has been serving the community for 25 years, providing refuge, outreach, and critical support services to women and children affected by domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence in Drogheda and the surrounding areas.
