About us

History of Colchester and Tendring Women's Refuge

The first refuge in the Colchester-Tendring area opened in December 1977 in response to a desperate need in the locality for a place to which abused women, with their children, could escape from their violent partners.

The campaign to establish a safe haven for such women began in 1975 when a small group of feminists, horrified by the evidence which was emerging of widespread domestic violence in contemporary Britain, decided they had to take some action. Their hard work and determination paid off. Eighteen months later they opened the first refuge in Colchester. The house was soon full and, indeed, over the next few years it was frequently overcrowded. But it offered hundreds of abused women support and safety, and over the years it has enabled many women start a new life free from violence.

During the early days the Refuge depended heavily on committed volunteers. However, it gradually attracted sufficient funding to appoint increasing numbers of paid staff. Alongside this the trustees' strong desire to meet the needs of women and children escaping violent homes led them to enlarge the number of services the Refuge offered. Today Colchester and Tendring Women's Refuge has two houses where it offers its clients clean and comfortable accommodation and a variety of professionally delivered support services.

Despite the many changes the Refuge has undergone over the last forty years, one thing has not changed. The Refuge ethos of believing women, promoting self-help and allowing women to determine their own lives, remains as strong as ever. The Refuge continues to strive to create a world in which women are able to become independent people in their own right.