Winner of the 2024 Multi Strand National Diversity Award
MyCWA is a Cheshire-based charity supporting individuals and families affected by domestic abuse. From crisis accommodation and recovery programmes to practical support and behaviour change programmes, its whole-family service is designed to help anyone impacted by domestic abuse.
Believing in building a community where adults and children live free from the fear of domestic abuse, for over 45 years, MyCWA staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly towards this vision and last year supported almost 4,000 adults and children.
MyCWA has an inclusive approach, offering support to marginalised communities – including care leavers, the deaf community, Afghan and Ukrainian refugees and the local Polish community.
Vicki Rawlinson-Coates, Specialist Services Manager at MyCWA, gives us an insight into their work and mission.
How our work has affected our community:
Our Lighthouse Project has already made a significant impact in the communities it aims to serve by identifying and addressing the unique barriers these communities face in accessing domestic abuse support. For example, MyCWA’s by-and-for Trans Without Abuse service offers the trans and non-binary community appropriate support bespoke to their unique needs. Through Trans Without Abuse, we have also created a first-of-its-kind online, self-paced recovery programme called "Live Free" to reach even more people.
We are actively engaging with local community leaders, healthcare professionals and other support services to ensure awareness of and access to this resource and our wider services reaches as many people in need as possible.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, we have been able to create safe, accessible pathways for these underserved communities, ensuring they have the culturally sensitive support they need.
Why we started out on this journey
Our journey began with a clear mission: to ensure that everyone impacted by domestic abuse has access to the support they need, regardless of background or identity. This mission is deeply rooted in the vision of our CEO, Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie, who has dedicated over 30 years to working in the domestic abuse sector, focusing on those who face unique barriers to accessing support. Recognising that marginalised groups often face added challenges due to physical barriers, societal stigma or lack of culturally sensitive services, Saskia was instrumental in the creation of the Lighthouse Project.
Our initiative which has had the greatest impact
Our Trans Without Abuse initiative has been particularly impactful, creating a support pathway for trans and non-binary individuals who have previously felt or assumed there are no services which can cater to their needs. In its first year, this programme reached over 244 professionals through awareness and training sessions, supporting them in understanding and addressing the unique needs of trans survivors. Through our online Live Free recovery programme, we offer a resource tailored specifically to the trans experience of domestic abuse, allowing survivors to heal on their terms. Survivor feedback from this programme has been incredibly positive and shows its value as a safe, relevant and supportive resource for those who often face added stigmas in accessing traditional domestic abuse services.
With the benefit of hindsight, what we would do differently
Reflecting on our first year, we are proud of the progress we have made, particularly in building connections with the trans and non-binary community. However, this work has also been met with broader societal challenges, including organised protests at LGBTQ+ events, opposition from some local councillors and negative responses on social media. While much of this sentiment is beyond our control, it has highlighted the need for us to be even more resilient and proactive in advocating for the right to safe, inclusive support.
Our efforts to support the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities have also encountered unique challenges. Building trust has been difficult, partly due to the limited number of local organisations that serve these communities specifically. While we have deepened our relationship with Pride of Romany, which advocates for the Romany community, our training has made it clear that there are many distinct groups within this community, each with its own needs. Going forward, we’re prioritising additional training and working to build stronger, more inclusive partnerships within the GRT communities, with a particular focus on the Irish Traveller community.
Our advice to other people trying to help their community
Genuine listening and adaptability are essential when working to support any community. Every community is unique and the solutions you offer must reflect the lived experiences and specific needs of those you are serving. One of the most important aspects of this work is engaging with compassion, as it helps to build trust and rapport which are crucial for creating effective support systems.
Survivors’ perspectives and insights should be at the heart of service design and delivery, ensuring the services offered are not only responsive but meaningful and impactful.
The people who have inspired us
Survivors themselves inspire us daily; their strength and resilience are constant reminders of why we do this work. We also find inspiration in advocates within the LGBTQ+ and other marginalised communities who tirelessly push for inclusivity and accessible support services.
The ways in which local or national government could help you us
Increased funding for diversity-focused domestic abuse services would enable us, and anyone else who directly supports those impacted by abuse, to reach and support more individuals in need, especially those from underserved communities.
Promoting culturally competent training for service providers is also essential to ensure support services are designed with an understanding of the specific cultural, social and emotional needs of different communities.
Ultimately, a more inclusive and effective support landscape, which brings with it subsequent positive, lasting change, is possible when local and national governments work in partnership with community organisations such as MyCWA.
Our next goals
As we enter the second year of the Lighthouse Project, we’re focused on building on our foundation and increasing our impact within marginalised communities.
One of our primary aims is to establish new partnerships that will help us fill crucial gaps in services, particularly in areas like health, where we’ve identified a need for more comprehensive support. We’re also focusing on driving volunteer recruitment which is essential for expanding our outreach and ensuring that we have community advocates who can engage directly with those who need our services.
We’re taking a more intersectional approach to our work, recognising that different groups within our target communities have unique needs that require specialised support. Our aim is to offer “by-and-for” support services for these specific communities, creating safe spaces where individuals feel understood and empowered.
We’re also developing a robust training programme to share our insights and practices with others across the public sector, helping to create a more inclusive and informed network of support for marginalised communities.
What this award means to us and our community
This award not only affirms our long-standing commitment to inclusivity in support services, but also reinforces the vital role that tailored, appropriate support plays in the lives of vulnerable people within marginalised communities.
For the people we serve, this recognition is much more than an accolade—it’s a powerful reminder that their voices and needs are being acknowledged and there is a network of passionate professionals and a wider community committed to creating positive lasting change for them.
Our experience at the National Diversity Awards ceremony
The National Diversity Awards ceremony was an unforgettable and deeply moving experience for our team. They felt both energised and humbled from being in a room full of people who shared the same commitment to inclusivity and diversity. We felt incredibly proud to have our hard work recognised on such a meaningful stage, by such an inspiring audience.
One of the highlights of the evening was when Debbie, our Trans Without Abuse Lead, spoke about the Lighthouse Project and our mission to break down barriers for those who often feel left out of traditional support services. Her words clearly struck a chord as many people approached her afterwards to share how much her message meant to them, with some saying it was the first time they’d heard anyone speak so directly about the challenges facing trans and non-binary survivors of domestic abuse.
The whole night reminded us why we do what we do, and we left feeling not only grateful but also more determined than ever to keep pushing forward.
How this award will help us in our work
This award brings much-needed recognition to our mission and the critical importance of providing inclusive, accessible support to anyone impacted by domestic abuse. By shining a spotlight on our efforts, it not only ensures more people who may need our help are aware of the support available to them, but it also helps elevate the voices of people we serve; ensuring those who are often isolated and unseen feel heard and supported.
Beyond increased visibility, this award also significantly strengthens our credibility within the community and the wider sector. When people see our work is recognised, it instils greater confidence in our ability to deliver effective support, opening the door to new opportunities—whether that’s through new partnerships, securing funding or expanding our outreach.