DOMESTIC ABUSE SUPPORT SERVICES

Watford Women’s Centre provides free, confidential support for women aged 18+ who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can include emotional, physical, sexual, financial, digital and coercive or controlling behaviour by a current or former partner, family member or another person connected to you through a domestic relationship.

Our My Ally service offers a safe, non-judgemental space to talk about what is happening, consider your options and access appropriate support.

Contact My Ally

Telephone: 01923 927 500
Email: ally@watfordwomenscentre.org.uk

Professionals can download and complete our referral form, then email it to ally@watfordwomenscentre.org.uk.

Please note: My Ally is a specialist domestic abuse service. If your concern does not relate to domestic abuse, we may be able to provide information about other services better placed to help.

We are not a crisis or emergency housing service. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. We can signpost to appropriate services, including refuge and emergency housing support.

One-to-One Domestic Abuse Support

Our specialist Domestic Abuse Support Workers offer free, booked appointments by telephone or in person. We also offer specialist support for migrant and ethnic minority women.

Appointments can help you to:

Talk through what is happening
Consider your safety and options
Access information and practical support
Arrange an appointment with one of our legal partners for family law or immigration advice, where appropriate
Access other Watford Women’s Centre services, including counselling and My Life recovery courses

Appointments must be booked in advance; we are unable to offer walk-in support. We usually aim to offer an appointment within 1–3 working days.

My Ally Online Support Groups

Our weekly Zoom groups offer a supportive space for women affected by domestic abuse to connect with others, share experiences and feel less alone.

Wednesdays: 7.30pm–8.30pm
Thursdays: 12.30pm–1.30pm

Groups run during Hertfordshire school term times.

Email ally@watfordwomenscentre.org.uk for joining details.

Supporting Letter Requests

If you need a supporting letter for legal, housing, immigration or other professional purposes, please give us at least 5 working days’ notice wherever possible.

We will try to help with urgent requests where capacity allows, but this cannot be guaranteed. Letters can only confirm information based on our involvement with you; we cannot provide legal advice or recommend a legal outcome.

Volunteer With My Ally

We are looking for female volunteers with lived experience of domestic abuse, either personally or in a supporting capacity.

If you can offer two or more hours a week to support other women, we would love to hear from you. Training and volunteering can be completed remotely.

Email ally@watfordwomenscentre.org.uk to find out more.

Other Support at Watford Women’s Centre

We also offer:

Community engagement through our Women’s Advocate
Wider volunteering opportunities
Counselling
Wellbeing, personal development and education courses

We work with several legal firms that offer free initial appointments for eligible clients. A referral to a legal firm is not a recommendation of its services, and Watford Women’s Centre cannot accept responsibility for advice provided by external organisations.

Help Us Improve My Ally

We are reviewing My Ally to make sure our services remain meaningful and needs-led. If you have used the service, we would be grateful if you could complete our anonymous feedback form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1E6afZABB_lxC4A7ZV3bUtVcw30hYMeR4RjEQY8-M_zo/edit

You have helped me walk tall again, without the fear that has followed me for so long. You have shown me that we are worthy as women and that we have to hold on to our self-esteem even when others would try to destroy it. I became me again and turned a negative experience into a positive outcome.