About us

What we stand for

Colchester and Tendring Women's Refuge is committed to campaigning against all forms of domestic abuse and to repudiating totally any attempt to excuse or justify it. We regard the continuing incidence of domestic violence in this country as a source of profound social shame and are pledged to pressing the government to take action to eradicate it.

We regard our activity as part of a larger campaign which works for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and for the recognition and implementation of women's rights throughout the world.

As our part in asserting the dignity of women, and supporting their efforts to become autonomous and independent members of society, we offer crisis accommodation to women, and their accompanying children, who have been made homeless as a result of abuse at the hands of their partners. When a woman comes to the Refuge we aim to offer her the space and opportunity to make an independent decision about her future, whatever that may be.

We also believe that children are deeply damaged by living alongside domestic violence and we support the right of women and children to choose the kind of family structure they believe will enable them to maximise their social autonomy and productivity.