Women's Aid: 1980s

50 Years of Activism: The Women's Aid Federation of England Archive

MS 2265/4/7/8, Womens Aid postcard. Image credit: Women’s Aid Federation of England.

50 Years of Activism: The Women's Aid Federation of England Archive

A Research Spotlight exploring the history and achievements of Women’s Aid Federation of England over their 50-year history, since their formation in 1974.

MS 2265/12/1, Photograph showing Birmingham March, 24 September 1978. Image credit: Women’s Aid Federation of England.

Women's Aid: 1970s

Set against a backdrop of social change, activism and the Women’s Liberation Movement, the 1970s saw the beginning of the refuge movement and the formation of Women’s Aid.

MS 2265/4/9/28, Women - Are You at Risk from Violence? Women's Aid National Helpline poster. Image credit: Women’s Aid Federation of England.

Women’s Aid continued to campaign for action on domestic violence by the police and criminal justice system throughout the 1980s, as well as establishing the first National Domestic Violence Helpline.

MS 2265/4/11/13, The Gold Book: Women's Aid Directory of Domestic Violence Refuge and Helpline Services. Image credit: Women’s Aid Federation of England.

Women's Aid: 1990s

In the 1990s Women’s Aid stepped up their output of public campaigning around domestic violence issues and established a Training Unit, as well as continuing their lobbying work with the government and the police.

MS 2265/6/1/7, Cut. Image credit: Women’s Aid Federation of England.

Women's Aid: 2000s

Women’s Aid’s projects and campaigns expanded into the digital world in the 2000s, as they also celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2004.

MS 2265, No! To Male Violence t-shirt. Image credit: Women’s Aid Federation of England.

Women's Aid: 2010s to 2024

Women’s Aid reached their golden anniversary in 2024, celebrating 50 years of dedication to protecting women and children from domestic violence.

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1980s
• Women’s Aid began publishing an impressive output of books and reports based on their extensive research, including: ‘Leaving Violent Men: A Study of Refuges and Housing for Abused Women’ (1981); ‘Private Violence: Public Shame’ (1984); and ‘Breaking Through! Women Surviving Male Violence’ (1989).

1987
• After a brief closure period due to loss of funding in the mid-1980s, Women’s Aid restarted in Bristol with a new National Office and a representative National Coordinating Group to oversee the Federation and make decisions. Local groups were re-affiliated to the new membership structure.
• Women’s Aid established the first National Domestic Violence Helpline (formally opened in April 1988), which became a national referral point for access to the ever-expanding network of refuges and support services. Ran by volunteers, the Helpline became a vital support mechanism for women and children suffering domestic violence, as well as being used by agency professionals seeking advice.

1988
• Women’s Aid supported the establishment of new local multi-agency forums on domestic violence and worked in partnership with them to develop and expand training resources.
• The Housing Act 1988 introduced assured tenancies and de-regulated rents, leading to a more insecure future for women and children escaping domestic violence and seeking housing in the private sector. However, the Act also paved the way for greater development of supported housing services, which helped refuge service development. 

1989
• The Children Act 1989 placed greater emphasis on child protection and parental responsibility, but failed to take into account domestic violence and its impact on children’s safety. It led to many problems with child contact arrangements, as abused women were frequently advised to hand their children over to their father, even when they had good reason to believe that the children may be abused, neglected or abducted.