Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies has been shocked to hear of a six-fold increase in the number of calls made by troubled women to the local Women's Aid charity.

On a fact-finding visit to Pembrokeshire Women's Aid Mr Davies was told of the huge increase demand for the services of the charity over the past year.

"Between March 2007 and April 2008, 97 women who needed information and support called the charity," he said. "But in the next four months alone there were 211 calls. If this level of calls continues then the charity will receive over 600

pleas for help. These figures are really shocking and reveal just what a need there is for this support group."

He was also told that in the year to March 2008, 75 women were referred to a refuge by the charity. By December last year – in just eight months – the total had already reached 70.

However Pembrokeshire is thought to be the only county in Wales that does not have either an outreach or "floating" support service that would make accessing help easier for women.

"The fact that services are not being taken out to women in Pembrokeshire in the same way as the rest of Wales is of great concern," added Mr Davies.
"It is obvious from the figures that there is a very real need for these services and we must make them more easily available."

Rachel Rees-Jones from the charity explained: "We have started to receive visits to our office from women who are not looking for refuge, but who do need information and support. The numbers are steadily increasing.

"I do not know of any other county in Wales that does not have an outreach or floating support service. We receive no money from the local authority towards the prevention of homelessness work we carry out via outreach information provision."

Mr Davies was told about the complexity of domestic abuse issues and the fact that homelessness is just one of the many problems it causes.

"There are significant effects of trauma associated with domestic abuse, some of which include mental health or substance misuse issues," explained Ms Rees- Jones.

"Many women experience post traumatic stress as a result of an abusive relationship and between 50 and 60% of women mental health service users have experienced domestic abuse.

"Women who have experienced abuse are three times more likely to experience emotional health difficulties than the general population. "More than half of our referrals are from women who have either mental health or substance misuse issues co-occurring."

The charity is now lobbying for a more 'joined up' approach to domestic abuse, better provision of services such as outreach and improving the accessibility of existing services for all women including those who have a disability, those in same sex relationships, and those with additional support needs.

*Any woman experiencing domestic abuse can contact Pembrokeshire Women's Aid helpline on 01437 769564, or the Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 80 10 800 - both 24 hours.