We return now from the often inspirational ways of working, discussed in the last two chapters, to focus on the organisation and history of the domestic violence movement, mainly in the UK's countries. This was covered in Chapter 4 up to the end of the 1980s. This chapter moves forward to look at policy and service issues in the movement since that time.

More services in the 1990s

The domestic violence and abuse sector was well established by the 1990s. The early days of the white-heat of women’s movement activity at its peak were over (although the movements remained active). The phase of figuring out what to do from scratch and how to do it were long gone. Services had diversified as time had passed. They included refuges, support and outreach projects, BMER services, legal campaigns and policy work. In 1993, there were 275 refuge groups in England, many running more than one refuge. Welsh Women's Aid, Scottish Women’s Aid and Women's Aid Northern Ireland coordinated 37, 35 and 9 refuge groups, respectively.

In all, refuge was offered to about 40,000 women and children, and assistance to a further 100,000 annually. Workers and activists continued to work tirelessly, and the domestic violence sector, including the Women's Aid federations and BME women's initiatives, were innovative in constantly moving the sector forward. Domestic abuse services conducted advocacy widely with agencies and institutions, and domestic violence training courses began to be provided across the board in the 1990s to educate professionals, stemming often from the independent women's services.

The sector began to liaise more closely (if, often, more in opposition than not) with government. Governmental departments like the Home Office and Department of Health sometimes commissioned research and policy development on violence against women. And the Women's Aid federations, rape crisis and others initiated research themselves, which took off more and more in this decade. After a two-year consultation with Women's Aid members and national interest groups on how to improve its diversity, equality and effectiveness, the management body of Women's Aid (England) changed its legal structure in 1995 to a charitable company with a Council of Officers.