We are incredibly proud to announce that The Haven Wolverhampton has been awarded unconditional accreditation by Women’s Aid under the National Quality Standards (NQS). This is the only national accreditation in England that recognises the work of dedicated, specialist domestic abuse services. This milestone isn’t just a recognition of what we do. It is a celebration of how we do it.
Though the accreditation journey officially began in September 2024, this moment has been years in the making. With changes both within The Haven and at Women’s Aid Federation England (WAFE), the timing finally aligned for us to embark on a newly restructured, evidence-driven accreditation process.
We were among the first cohort to undergo this rigorous new model. It assessed our organisation against seven demanding standards that covered every aspect of our service delivery and governance, from frontline refuge support to community outreach, therapeutic programmes, and leadership.
The process was intense and at times overwhelming. As Cheryl our Senior Services Manager put it, “When Grace and I (armed with coffee and determination) sat in the little conference room at the top of Head Office and mapped every single piece of evidence on a whiteboard, the sheer scale of what was ahead hit us hard. We could have cried.”
But we didn’t give up.
Achieving NQS accreditation wasn’t just about submitting paperwork. It meant challenging ourselves and our systems to reflect the best of what specialist services should offer. We improved data systems, refined governance, streamlined processes, and collected evidence drawn from real-life casework, meeting notes, audits, and frontline service delivery.
From our initial submission in October to an in-person visit from our WAFE liaison in November, every stage required dedication, teamwork, and a relentless commitment to quality. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and so were the lessons learned.
As Grace our Community Manager reflected: “The process has given staff across The Haven Wolverhampton an opportunity for continued professional development by working on such a worthwhile project. It’s been a tremendous learning experience and has put us in a great position to make bold, strategic decisions based on solid evidence and understanding.”
What This Means for Victims and Survivors
For the women and children who come to us during some of the most difficult moments in their lives, this accreditation offers reassurance. It means:
- They are supported by a trusted, expert-led organisation
- Our staff are trained to meet their needs with compassion, care, and professionalism
- We work from a trauma-informed, intersectional, and anti-discriminatory framework
- Their voices are central to how we develop and deliver services
We don’t just provide support we walk alongside victims and survivors in their journey toward safety, recovery, and independence.
In January, we received a conditional award with 25 recommendations for improvement, all of which we embraced and implemented. On 14th April 2025, we received the final verdict: an unconditional award! But for us, this isn’t the finish line. It’s a powerful new beginning.
The landscape of domestic abuse is always evolving, and so will we. This accreditation is our foundation as we continue building stronger, safer futures for women and children in our community.
To our staff, partners, funders, and every individual who supports our mission: thank you. Your belief in our work helped make this achievement possible.
