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Stark Reality Provides Inspiration at Women’s Fund Event

Domestic Violence was an issue that was highlighted this morning at The Community Foundation for Ireland’s Women’s Fund event. This is the fourth event in the series since the Fund was established in April 2010. The event was opened by Emma Turner from Barclays Wealth who spoke about the importance of developing a relationship with philanthropists. Each philanthropist is an individual, inspired and motivated in unique ways. A relationship must be developed similar to a customer relationship and this can drive loyalty and ensure continued support.

Following this motivating contribution the attendees heard from two national organisations working on the issue of domestic violence in Ireland,  Safe Ireland and  Women’s Aid. Safe Ireland is a national organisation representing domestic violence services whilst Women’s Aid works directly with victims of domestic violence. Many of the audience were not familiar with some of the uncomfortable facts around domestic violence in Ireland today, typically domestic violence is seen as an issue of the past but this is not true. Sharon O’ Halloran, Director, Safe Ireland provided some figures. In one day, on the 4th November 2010, 555 women were accommodated or received support from a domestic violence support service, 140 helpline calls were received and most importantly on this day 18 women were turned away as they could not be accommodated in a refuge because of lack of space. To take action and seek refuge is a huge step for a woman in such a situation and to consider that some have to be turned away is quite frightening.

Margaret Martin, Director, Women’s Aid developed on these points by giving examples of how difficult it can be for these women to take the first step and make a call to a helpline such as Women’s Aid. Silence and the fear of speaking is one of the reasons why domestic violence is still so prevalent in Ireland today. Women, feel isolated, ashamed, powerless. When they find their voice it is crucial that someone is there to help and listen. It is for this reason that Women’s Aid provide assistance in over 170 different languages through their helpline and the impact of this cannot be underestimated.

One of the early donors to The Women's Fund spoke of a recent visit to organisations where a grant of a few thousand can make such a difference. “When you turn on the radio in the morning, within a few minutes you wonder why you did. We have gone from hearing about millions to billions to trillions. It can make you feel helpless. Community philanthropy grounds you because you can make a real difference to a group working with vulnerable women at the coalface with a grant of just a few thousand euros. The Community Foundation helps – it is like when you throw a stone into a pond and you see the ripples – as an individual you would find it hard to move beyond the stone – The Community Foundation, with its contacts, can find great projects on the margins that we as donors would simply never come across. I got to see groups working with girls who at just 15 are addicted to crack cocaine, a women’s refuge which is struggling to deal with the many women seeking help and an organisation that is helping women to gain fantastic lifeskills. This is why we need The Women's Fund”.

The Women’s Fund is helping groups such as these through small grants. The purpose of the Women’s Fund is to reach these groups that can often pass under the radar of the general public but that are providing an invaluable service to those who need to avail of them. With the experience of grant making within the Community Foundation it is possible to reach such groups and have a real impact on services that are assisting the most vulnerable in our society. If you would like to make a donation to the Women’s Fund please click here and if you would like more information on recent grants from the fund or on the fund itself please see here.

If you would like information from the research quoted by Emma Turner please see here.