Letter from the Assistant Chief Executive The past three months have been a very hectic time at The Haven and particularly so in developments with our new ACTIVE centre. We continue to raise funds for the Centre and in the meantime, in this issue you can read about the 'makeover', which has enabled us to use the building as office space for some of our non-refuge based staff.

For some time now, these staff have moved from one office to another and have had to work in over-crowded places. I would add however, that this is not uncommon in the voluntary sector. Sincere thanks to all these staff (you know who you are!), for coping with the many changes that have been put your way and I hope you're enjoying your new environment. The Right Honourable Jacqui Smith MP, deputy Minister for Women and Equalities will be opening the ACTIVE centre later this month and we'll report on the visit in a later issue.

Raising awareness of the issues of Domestic Violence and its impact on women and children is just one of the key roles of women's refuges. We have recently extended our External Training Team and in this issue you can read about how they go about planning, developing and delivering training around Domestic Violence to the voluntary, statutory and private sectors.

Our Easter Egg Appeal was very successful down to your support and donations and our resident children were delighted with the results! We're now planning for The Haven's Summer Play Season, which you can imagine can be a very hectic but fun time at our hostels.

Five very brave and fit women from Wolverhampton completed a 10-day trek in Cuba, walking for about 6-hours each day, to raise money for The Haven. One of the trekkers has written an article for this issue, so you can read about their experiences. Congratulations and many thanks to you all for your commitment, dedication and support, which is greatly appreciated by the women and children as well as all our staff team and Board of Management. The total raised was over £11,000 which is just fantastic! Not all of us can undertake this sort of Charity Challenge but if it is something that you would like to do, then please see details of next challenge.

Work with our overseas partners continues to assist women in very difficult circumstances make a huge difference to their lives, impacting their Government and lobbying for change in society' practices and policies.

Development of our new hostel to support women who are suffering with mental ill-health as a result of domestic violence is progressing. We now have confirmation of capital funding and I am delighted to let you know that we have been awarded planning permission for the development. I do hope that by the next issue, we have further news to tell you.

Jasvinder Devgon
Assistant Chief Executive

The Crisis centre "Ekaterina" officially opened in Ekaterinburg, central Russia, on 6 March 1998, with the mission to provide social, psychological and legal support services to women and children experiencing Domestic Violence. Before this period the problem of Domestic Violence was largely ignored. The centre has a team of psychologists and solicitors to provide individual consultations to women and work with women's support groups. "Ekaterina" also works on raising awareness about the issues related to Domestic Violence and trafficking, delivering training to organisations and groups and works closely with the media.

The centre runs a Domestic Violence help-line and 5 years ago it had 700 referrals annually; now the number of referrals has reached 2000 per year. The centre has only 8 members of staff, half of them are volunteers.

Staff concentrates on building partnerships with similar organisations in Russia and abroad in a joint effort to tackle the problem of Domestic Violence and an attempt to make political and social changes.

In 2001- 2003 the Crisis Centre "Ekaterina" took part in a joint project with The Haven Wolverhampton and Women's Aid, financed by the Department of International Development, UK. The main aim of the project was to develop and deliver an educational programme on Domestic Violence for the Police. One of the achievements of our projects was signing the agreement between the Ekaterinburg's Police and the Crisis Centre "Ekaterina". This is a unique example of this practice in Russia. The status of the organisation increased significantly as it became an equal partner with the Police in the fight for prevention of Domestic Violence. The Russian colleagues commented that they have observed the revolution in understanding the problem."

Influential people from Ekaterinburg's Local Authority were involved in the project and visited The Haven's hostels. The Haven Wolverhampton, with its 30 years of experience in the field of Domestic Violence, was a valuable partner to learn from and, as a result, the first two hostels for women and children were opened in Ekaterinburg. This was a huge step forward for the Crisis Centre as homeless women can be given a refuge, shelter and support in a safe environment.

However there have been some changes in the Russian legal structure and cases of Domestic Violence are now going through a different part of the system, 'Justice of Peace'. Those involved with the legal process now were not included in the initial project and have little awareness of Domestic Violence. The Crisis Centre "Ekaterina" put forward a proposal for the new project to develop to deliver an educational programme for the Justice of Peace workers.

Ludmila Ermakova, (pictured right) director of the Crisis Centre "Ekaterina" stated at the 30th Anniversary of The Haven Wolverhampton: "that the problem of Domestic Violence is universal, common to all mankind, this problem crosses state and language boundaries. The people who work in Crisis Centres all over the world understand better than many politicians that Domestic Violence is a chain reaction that once started is very difficult to stop. This is why people who devote their lives to dealing with this problem and generously share their experience with colleagues from other countries are working for the future benefit of all mankind."

The Haven Wolverhampton continues to support the valuable work of our overseas colleagues in their struggle for justice for vulnerable women and children.

Kath Rees and Elvira Richardson
(The Haven Wolverhampton)

Can you help us in the coming months?

If you can help in any way, please contact Ros on 01902 572147

The Clothesline Charity Shop is on the move! We are being relocated to 26, Chapel Ash. Please contine to support us- we are not too far away from where we began!!

Visit our website at www.havenrefuge.org.uk for details of how you can make a difference.

Our business office number is 01902 572140, fax: 01902 572144.
For referrals and 24 hour emergency assistance only, please call 01902 713001.
Business Administration Office:
26, Chapel Ash,
Wolverhampton.

You can also email us at info@havenrefuge.org.uk

The Haven Wolverhampton aims to provide quality and sensitive services to women and any dependent children who are homeless through reasons such as Domestic Violence and in need of safety, shelter, stability and support within an environment of equality, dignity and respect.