Refuge spreads its expertise abroad

Workers at Wolverhampton's women's refuge are helping Russia stem the tide of domestic violence.

The Haven Wolverhampton, in Fold Street in the city centre, has been providing services for women and children experiencing domestic violence in Wolverhampton for the last 35 years.

Now the team is also working with a women's crisis centre called Ekaterina, in Sverdlovsk, in a £300,000 three-year scheme funded by the Big Lottery's international programme, which began two years ago.

The Haven Wolverhampton had been working with Ekaterina since 1997 when they approached the team in Wolverhampton to share its knowledge, skills and expertise.

Haven Chief Executive, Kath Rees, said the crucial work carried out had brought the city an international reputation for providing such expertise.

Services provided under the 'Life without Fear' scheme include training for judges, lawyers and police and domestic violence training for women's organisations, focusing on processing domestic violence cases through the criminal justice system. A conference on domestic violence - the first of its kind in Russia - was also held in Ekaterinburg last October, thanks in part to The Haven's innovative work.