New domestic abuse support cafes seek volunteers

A charity that supports victims of domestic abuse is seeking volunteers to run "much-needed" support cafés in Fenland.

Last year, Peterborough Women's Aid (PWA) helped about 1,700 women across the city and surrounding areas.

On Monday, it received £46,000 in funding from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's Police & Crime Commissioner to run face-to-face sessions in March and Wisbech. It is also extending its wellbeing cafes in Peterborough.

The charity's chief executive, Amanda Geraghty, said: "There's a real lack of support for anyone experiencing domestic abuse in Fenland. There will [now] be one weekly group in Wisbech and one in March or Chatteris."

She added: "We will also be doing a monthly drop-in for male victims of domestic abuse as well in Peterborough and Fenland."

In 2024, the charity, which provides emotional support and debt management to abuse victims and runs refuge centres, had just under 900 referrals.

Geraghty said over the past six months, it has seen a 25% increase in referrals coming from South Asian communities through its Dahlia project. It has also seen an increase in people seeking help from the city's Lithuanian community.

Last year, the charity received £750,000 of funding from the city council for a new support service, The Peacock Project - an acronym for protect, empower, advocate, courage, overcome, confidence and knowledge.

As a result, the group said it saw referrals rise to about 1,700 in 2025.

"We've grown quickly over the last three years, people are just really confident to come to us for help," she said.

"We are noticing that we have had more women with practical needs - that you know can't afford toiletries or food, or were having real trouble paying the bills.

"Poverty seems to be more apparent than it has been before. So, that's why we're constantly relying on donations so we can get these out to women who can't afford it."

Geraghty said two Peterborough sessions called "women warriors" are already held every week, with at least 20 people in attendance, which are helping "boost confidence and beat isolation" among the victims.

"They are popular, and we do lots of things, have a well-being coach, and she might do exercises to increase confidence, invite guest speakers from cervical smear programmes or talk about menopause," she added.

"The beauty of the group is it's about making women feel comfortable and welcome, and not going on about abuse. It's about moving forward, increasing self-esteem, developing friendships and reducing the isolation."

She said the charity is hoping to mirror this support in Fenland and is looking for volunteers to help run the sessions, which are due to start from 16 April.

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