In partnership with The JABBS Foundation and the National Women’s Justice Coalition, The Centre for Young Lives is today publishing a new briefing calling for Women’s Centres to be recognised as a core part of the Government’s early intervention infrastructure.

Women’s Centres provide safe, trusted and women-only spaces where women and girls can access holistic, trauma-informed support. They help women facing multiple and overlapping challenges, including domestic abuse, poor mental health, financial insecurity, housing problems, substance use and contact with the criminal justice system.

[.download]Download the Briefing[.download]

Yet despite the vital role they already play, Women’s Centres remain poorly funded and unevenly distributed across the country. Too often, their contribution is viewed primarily through a criminal justice lens, rather than as part of the wider system of prevention, family support and early intervention.

Connecting support for women, children and families

Women’s Centres should be better connected to the Government’s emerging early intervention infrastructure, including Family Hubs, Young Futures Hubs, Families First and neighbourhood-based services. Stronger local partnerships could help women access joined-up support without having to navigate multiple services or repeatedly retell their experiences. 

For girls, young women and mothers with complex needs, services are rarely joined up and often difficult to navigate. Women’s Centres offer a different approach by building trusted relationships, understanding the different challenges in women’s lives, and connecting them with the right support at the right time.

The Government’s devolution agenda presents an opportunity to strengthen this approach, with strategic authorities and mayors bringing together Women’s Centres, health services, schools, social care, Family Hubs and other local partners around shared priorities. 

Reaching women before crisis point

Women’s Centres can play a much bigger role in helping the Government deliver its ambition to intervene earlier and prevent problems from escalating into crisis. 

Evidence highlighted in the briefing shows that Women’s Centres can improve outcomes for women and children while reducing demand on public services. Analysis has estimated that a Women’s Centre receiving £1 million annually can support more than 650 women and generate around £2.75 million in wider socio-economic benefits. 

There is also a strong case for recognising the contribution Women’s Centres can make to children and families. Many women who use Women’s Centres are mothers, meaning that support with mental health, domestic abuse, housing, finances and parenting can contribute to safer and more stable environments for children.

‍A call for long-term investment and action

The briefing sets out six recommendations for Government, including recognising Women’s Centres as essential local infrastructure, developing a cross-government strategy for girls and young women, establishing stronger funding and accountability arrangements, investing in a sustainable national network of Women’s Centres, and improving support for care-experienced girls and young women. 

Women’s Centres are already providing the trusted, holistic support that women and girls need. The opportunity now is to recognise their role, connect them more effectively into local systems, and give them the sustainable investment they need to reach more women before problems escalate into crisis.

[.download]Download the Briefing[.download]