Lucy Martin is the CEO of Watford Women’s Centre, based in Watford and founded in 1989, which runs three core “needs-based” services, aiming “to empower people by ensuring they have the skills and tools they need to fulfil their potential”.
This is achieved by running all three services under one roof, which is a unique way of offering support, allowing an easier experience for women as all three services are “intertwined”.
WWC offers an education programme, running sessions such as English speaking classes and employability courses, which is “all about upskilling people so they have a better chance to get into employment or further study”.
The second service focuses on providing support for victims of domestic abuse, through supplying both practical and legal support, which is vital as it is “never as simple as “just leave” for women”.
Lastly, WWC offers affordable counselling for women.
Lucy described how “people come back and forth to WWC as support is always open” showing just how useful it is that these three interconnected services are under one charity.
She was inspired to join the centre after previously working at a rape crisis centre, before moving on to be the co-CEO of a charity focused on supporting family carers, so WWC was a way of combining these two roles into one she was particularly passionate and interested in.
In recent decades, attitudes towards women have changed.
But how?
There is “possibly less of a stigma”, opening up more conversations, but there remains “a lack of understanding in terms of understanding the complexities of women's issues such as why people don't always leave abusive relationships”.
Furthermore, domestic violence is still very common in the UK. 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lives, making up ⅔ of all domestic violence cases.
"There is still a long way to go”.
To create long-term nationwide change, WWC would like to see “a better understanding of domestic abuse and better police awareness to rebuild trust between women and the police”, and a greater government emphasis on “empathetic management”, which can often come from women.
When asked about how she weighs up helping women in the local area, compared to campaigning for women's rights on a wider, nationwide basis at WWC, Lucy said that “when you start to look at the wider picture and the bigger issues it can feel disheartening, and in Watford, we know we can help people immediately”, creating a faster, more tangible effect on individuals.
She explained how it was important for organisations to work together to “chip away at the iceberg”, to ultimately create a lasting, widespread effect.
In the future Lucy says she “would like to make the charity more well known in the area” as there are still many who could truly benefit from the Women’s Centre, who don't know it exists.
This could be achieved through “spreading positive messages not negative ones, and showing that women's issues are everyone's responsibility” in terms of marketing.
Another priority moving forward is “making sure we are moving with the times and we are seen as the go to place to support women”, even if this “doesn’t necessarily mean expanding the organisation” as maintaining the quality of services is vital.
The best way to offer support should you wish to is through fundraising such as non-uniform days, and simply spreading the word.
