A vital service protecting vulnerable women across North Wales is opening two new contact centres in Wrexham and Bangor to reach out to those in need..<\/p>\n
The North Wales Women\u2019s Centre, in Rhyl, was forced to close its doors during lockdown, preventing women using its drop-in service.<\/p>\n
Now the Centre has re-opened and is launching its new Pathfinder offices in Wrexham and Bangor and that has been welcomed by Women\u2019s Centre Managing Director Gemma Fox.<\/p>\n
The Pathfinder programme, which aims to help women at risk of offending, has been commissioned and paid for by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin.<\/p>\n
It provides early intervention and support to vulnerable women, often with issues such as alcohol and substance misuse, mental health problems and family relationships, to reduce the number in the criminal justice system while helping them live safer, healthier lives.<\/p>\n
Gemma Fox said: \u201cThese are places which are welcoming, warm, friendly places where women who have been through trauma can be reassured and have confidential conversations in a safe environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know these centres can encourage women to rebuild their lives and without the help of the Commissioner we just wouldn\u2019t have been able to go ahead with the plans<\/p>\n
\u201cThe return to face to face work will encourage women to seek out support again as during the pandemic that personal contact couldn\u2019t be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are beginning to see an increase in demand and are expecting this to grow with the developing economic fallout of the pandemic and drops in benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Wayne Jones said: \u201cWe are very keen to support the ongoing work of the Centre to divert women out of the criminal justice system whenever possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know the impact a sentence can have on a family and that\u2019s why we want to continue our support and we welcome the fact that the Centre is opening new bases in Wrexham and Bangor to make its services more accessible to women across North Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know from my own experience how very, very helpful these services are to women at risk including those who come to the Centre and want to change their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have an excellent record of supporting women who are in difficult situations and in diverting them away from prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cCovid has brought extra challenges with the reduction in face to face meetings but they have continued to do excellent work and it\u2019s great that they can now develop services across North Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yvonne Wild, Project Manager at the Centre, said: \u201cWomen come to us through different routes, not just referrals from police or those who have committed offences, but those also at risk of offending.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re often those who are homeless or with alcohol or drug problems, victims of domestic abuse and those in financial difficulty, particularly with the reduction in Universal Credit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are also people who have lost jobs, especially in an area like Rhyl which is one of the most deprived in Wales, but also in Bangor and in Wrexham where we get the most referrals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been an increase in the numbers seeking support with domestic abuse and housing problems that we are dealing with and it hasn\u2019t helped that women have not been able to call in during lockdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever we were delighted to restart our Wednesday drop in service in Rhyl in September where women can call by without an appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n
To contact the North Wales Women\u2019s Centre and for support go to https:\/\/northwaleswomenscentre.com\/<\/a> or call 01745-339331.<\/p>\n For more information on the work of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner go to https:\/\/www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk\/en\/home.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n