A vital West Midlands charity that supports thousands of domestic abuse victims every year has been described as making 'the greatest difference' to people's lives. Victims Minister Caroline Atkinson visited Black Country Women's Aid, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, where she met survivors of violence, staff who helped them recover, and the region's Victims Advocate Natalie Queiroz. The visit was her first since taking on the role less than a month ago.
The Derby North MP said learning from them would be crucial in enabling her to reduce the number of incidents happening in the country. Black Country Women's Aid supports around 15,000 women, men, and children every year, providing a range of services including domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence, modern slavery, stalking, forced marriage, and honour-based violence.
The charity will receive a share of £550 million that the Government is making available for victim support services over the next three years. Charity bosses said the multi-year funding package gives them the security to provide the services people need. Caroline Atkinson said: 'I've heard some incredibly powerful stories from some of the women that Black Country Women's Aid have been supporting. I think it's very humbling when people are so brave in being able to get out of the situations they were in. It's clear the people who work here have been a big part in enabling that to happen and enabling them to find somewhere safe and supporting people with such really practical things that make a difference to people's lives.'
She added: 'For me to be able to hear that was really powerful and I'm very grateful to those willing to talk to me but also all the people that work here day in, day out who are doing such an incredible job to keep women and girls safe. The stories of people who've been able to get themselves to a safe place after experiencing domestic violence, after experiencing stalking, after experiencing rape and sexual assaults, it's horrific that happens and that's why it's so important we do more to prevent that in the first place.'
Atkinson described the charity as 'utterly essential' and noted how it has 'learned and grown so much over the last 40 years. They've made such a difference to not only the women themselves but also their children and I think that the ability for them to be safe and be hopeful and look into the future is the greatest difference you can make to somebody's life.' Prior to her election in 2024, Mrs Atkinson worked as a barrister for 17 years and said she hopes to make an impact on issues she has talked about for years now she is in a position to do so.
She said: 'To do that job, listening to victims and survivors will always be key. To be most effective in trying to ensure we are improving the system, victims and survivors have to be at the heart of that. It's why the £550 million for victim support services over the next three years is critical. The violence against women and girls strategy that was announced in December, there are three clear pillars. It's absolutely important that we are preventing violence in the first place and that does require whole society change. We absolutely need to pursue perpetrators but when we know when things do happen, enabling the support for victims is absolutely crucial. Supporting victims from that moment and enabling them to speak up and then find help and go through the entire process and get the ability to move on and rebuild their lives at the end of it. If we don't get that right we are never going to be able to meet our objective of bringing down violence against women and girls within a decade.'
Sara Ward, CEO of Black Country Women's Aid, said it was helpful for the minister to hear from victims themselves and the impact the service has made on them. She added the multi-year funding would provide the security to continue providing their support services. She said: 'As a victim of abuse, you don't have to handle that on your own. Nobody ever asks to be abused, nobody wants to be. It's not right but people need to know where they can come for help and support. We respect the unbelievable strength in someone telling us. One of the things abuse does is make people feel shame and make them feel it's their fault. So to actually come out and tell somebody is a massive, brave thing. It's their journey and we're just helping them along their way in whichever way we can. That listening, supporting and caring is really important.'
She praised the staff, saying: 'The staff are incredible – the compassion and support they have. We have to look after people who deliver these services as well. We have one person who is coming back to volunteer because she said "I owe you". You don't owe us anything. We owe every victim the time, the space to hear and listen and to learn and make sure all of the time we're delivering the services they need. They are on their journey of recovery but I'm proud to have been part of it and I'm always glad they came through the door.'
People can access the National Domestic Abuse Hotline on 0808 2000 247 and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222. Black Country Women's Aid can be contacted on 0121 553 0090 Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm. A 24-hour helpline for those who need advice or are seeking a refuge place outside of office hours can call 0121 552 6448. Anyone in immediate danger is urged to call the police on 999.
