As a women-centred and women-led organisation, we work in accordance with the quality standards of Welsh Women’s Aid. Women shape our vision, inform our decisions, and lead our work at every level. Our approach ensures that women’s rights, wellbeing, and leadership remain at the heart of our mission.
1977
Aberystwyth Women’s Aid Founded (AWA)
Aberystwyth Women’s aid was founded by a group of women from the Aberystwyth area who were concerned about the issue of domestic abuse. AWA was set up as a women only collective to provide a non-hierarchical service for women run by women.
1982
First Refuge
In order to provide a secure place for women escaping domestic abuse, Ceredigion District Council provided AWA with a council house in the town centre for use as a refuge
1992
Cardigan Women’s Aid
Cardigan Women’s aid was incorporated as a private limited company
1995
Refuge Moved
The refuge was moved to new, purpose-built premises, provided as a special project by Cymdeithas Tai Cantref. Alongside the development of the refuge, a 24-hour helpline was established to enable women to contact the group quickly and easily, in order to gain access to the refuge and other support services offered by AWA.
1996
Information Centre Opened
AWA opened an Information Centre in the town with the help of a three-year grant from Comic Relief.
1999
3-year Grant
A more substantial three-year grant from the Lottery Community Fund enabled the group to successfully extend the Information Centre services to include outreach support and awareness raising work. The Information Centre premises have continued to provide a base for drop-in, outreach and awareness raising and have also become the base for the administration and finance work of the organisation.
2003
Floating Support Project
A Floating Support project was set up with funding from Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) Supporting People. This project has continued and expanded since then, providing ongoing tenancy-based support for women and children in the community whose lives are affected by domestic abuse. Funding from BBC Children in Need has enabled the group to employ Children’s and Young People’s workers to provide these support services and to develop the awareness raising work of the group in relation to children and young people’s issues.
2008
Promoting Amnesty’s Campaign
Members of the Cardigan Women’s Aid joined the Cardigan and North Pembrokeshire Amnesty group to help promote Amnesty’s ongoing Stop Violence against women campaign.
2009
Registering as a Charity
Aberystwyth Women’s Aid was registered as a charity. The group was successful in securing funding from the WAG to purchase the Domestic Abuse One Stop Shop which is at 42 Portland Road. Now an ongoing welcoming space for all.
2011
Refurbishment work
Refurbishment of 42 Portland Road began at the beginning of 2011 and was expected to finish in September.
2012
The Merger
Aberystwyth Women’s Aid and Cardigan Women’s Aid merged to become West Wales Women’s Aid
2015
Change of Name
West Wales Women’s Aid changed it’s name to West Wales Domestic Abuse Service LTD (WWDAS).
WWDAS was awarded the silver standard for its commitment to providing services in the Welsh language.
2018
Award and Funding
WWDAS won the supporting survivors award in the promoting independence awards 2018.
A survey of older women and a successful funding application to Comic Relief VAWDASV Fund was one of only 7 older people’s projects funded across Wales and England for the development of the Older Peoples Project (OWLS)
2020
Funding from ArTrac
A joint collaborative bid resulted in WWDAS received funding for the ArTrac Project. This innovative and participatory project has enabled the children and young people’s team to provide a wider variety of support to children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
2021
Runners Up in the GSJK Impact Awards & Natwest Circle Fund
- WWDAS were runners up in the GSK Impact Awards
- WWDAS receives the NatWest Circle Fund which provides grants to survivor’s at point of crisis. The funding can be used for various essential needs, such as securing safe housing, purchasing necessities, and facilitating access to support services.
2022
Own My Life Group Starts
WWDAS received funding to support the delivery of Own My Life. A group work programme that is transformative in enabling women who have been subjected to abuse to regain ownership of their lives.
2022
The Dyfed Powys Safer Streets Partnership Project
WWDAS lead a regional bid that gains funding he Office of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). Known as the Dyfed Powys Safer Streets Partnership Project. this project workerd with CARMDAS, MFCC, Calan DDVS and Threshold DAS and provided a successful bystander training programme for men and women to prevent, reduce and tackle neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and violence against women and girls (VAWG). The project ended in March 2025 – Its legacy continues through work that the team continues to do.
2023
Welsh Women’s Aid Quality Standards Awarded. Health Advocate Post and Safer Streets Award
- WWDAS was awarded the Welsh Women’s Aid quality standard
- The Domestic Abuse Health Advocate position in Bronglais hospital was established. The post works within professional guidelines to deliver a specialist advocacy and high-quality support to patients so as to help identify issue of Domestic Abuse (DA) within Bronglais Accident & Emergency Department and enable risk assessment, safety and support processes to be put in place.
- Funding was Granted to employ a support worker for the Ty Rhosyn project which is a housing support initiative aimed at addressing homelessness in rural areas and focuses on aiding vulnerable individuals at risk of homelessness particularly those experiencing domestic abuse.
- WWDAS were highly commended in the Safer Communities Awards.
2024
Branwen Centre Opening
WWDAS purchased the old Ashleigh Surgery in Cardigan for the development of the Branwen Centre. The Branwen Centre had its official opening on the 25th November.
WWDAS was awarded the Safe Lives Leading Lights accreditation.
Funding application began for the development of the Community garden.
2025
Trilogy of Risk Project, CARMDAS partnership, and Community garden
- Funding was granted early 2025 from Keep Wales Tidy for the development of the Community Garden.
- WWDAS was awarded £1500 from Tesco Stronger Starts in late 2025. This grant will be used to develop our community garden project supporting survivors of domestic abuse and facilitating intergenerational relationships in the community.
- WWDAS in partnership with CARMDAS developed a new project. The Road to Recovery Project is a new and unique; four-year initiative that will support individuals and families affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence, after the domestic abuse relationship has ended.
- After 4 years of development the Trilogy of Risk Project began. The project works in partnership with DDAS &, Ceredigion County Council Social Care and other departments to achieve the desired outcome of early help and prevention of escalation where there is concern surrounding trilogy of risk. Specialist information, advice, and assistance to the person at the point of contact to reduce escalation of needs as support provided at the right time by the right professional.
2026
New Website
In April 2026 after months of hard work WWDAS launched a new and improved website.