Lambeth Council has saluted the work of the Gaia Centre, as it recommissions the pioneering service to support more people who are experiencing gender-based violence.
The Gaia Centre, run by Refuge, has been a key element of Lambeth’s campaign to halt Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) for 18 years. The community-based service operates as a one-stop shop supporting victims and survivors with outreach programmes, independent advocacy, legal and economic support, group support, support around accommodation and housing, and other specialist services.
This wide range of work will continue in Lambeth after the council recommissioned the centre, to offer to services including dedicated support to children, young people and adults of all genders impacted by gender-based violence.
Partnership working
But the new Gaia Centre will extend its offer by formally partnering with four sub-contracted specialists, to ensure the service suits the needs of all victims and survivors in Lambeth.
Refuge has formed partnerships, based on shared values, and the ability to offer complementary support to meet key needs in the borough, with:
- Africa Advocacy Foundation, which will offer holistic support to Black African women and girls, aged 16+, who have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) or other harmful practices.
- Bede House, which will provide one-to-one or group sessions of psychodynamic art therapy for children aged 5-17 who have experienced or been impacted by VAWG.
- Respeito, which will provide support for members of the Portuguese-speaking community who have experienced domestic abuse.
- Spires, which offers trusted street-based outreach services to sex working women in Lambeth.
Launch event
The expanded service was formally launched at a special event in Lambeth Town Hall [9 December], as part of the global 16 Days of Activism that follows the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women day – or White Ribbon Day – on 25 November.
Word from Cabinet
Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Mahamed Hashi, said the event was a fitting opportunity “to celebrate the life-saving work of the Gaia Centre and the important role everyone has to play in eliminating VAWG”.
He said: “Tackling VAWG is a key priority for Lambeth; our third VAWG Strategy, launched in 2021, and sets out our vision that Lambeth is a borough where everyone is safe. But tackling VAWG is everyone’s business – we need to work together to realise our commitment – reflected within our Borough Plan (Our Future, Our Lambeth) – to make Lambeth one of the safest boroughs in London.
“We have been proud to support the Gaia Centre over many years, as a single point of access to support for anyone affected by any form of gender-based violence in Lambeth. In the last year over 1800 residents were referred to the Gaia Centre and we are committed to ensuring that the service remains accessible to all who need it.
“This year, we re-commissioned the Centre, to ensure that not only can it continue to provide this vital support to our residents, but actually expand its services to enable them to reach everyone in our borough who is in need of their support.”
Abigail Ampofo, interim CEO of Refuge, said:
Get support
Please visit the Lambeth website to access support or learn more about the Gaia Centre.
