History of Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid Page

Hemat Gryffe Womens Aid is the first Asian, Black and Minority ethnic womens aid group in Scotland.  The project was established in 1981 with refuge accommodation being made available in Quarriers Village in the Inverclyde District to Scottish Women’s Aid.  At that time there was a growing need for a separate Asian refuge due to the increasing number of Asian women fleeing domestic violence.  The specific linguistic and cultural needs made it difficult for mainstream women’s aid workers to provide satisfactory support and advice to these women.  Experience had shown that ethnic minority women were missing out on mutual support that women in refuge provide each other because of these linguistic and cultural barriers.  Many of the Asian women could not communicate in English and had little, if any knowledge of institutions like the social services or the social security. Most felt isolated and sometimes terrified in the mainstream refuges.

In 1991 Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid moved to Glasgow.  Due to funding constraints the project was based at various locations providing information and support to women whilst the refuge accommodation remained in Kilmacolm.

In 1995 security of funding enabled the drop in centre at Willowbank Street to be opened and a new purpose built refuge some three years later providing refuge accommodation at that time for 12 families and/or single girls.  At present we can accommodate 9 women and children (if any). The refuge has 9 flats ranging from one bedroom to four bedrooms.  There is also an office for the Housing Support Workers and a children’s playroom.  The refuge is equipped with a CCTV camera for the security of the residents.

Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid presently employs eight full time workers and 3 part-time workers together with a bank of committed volunteers from varied backgrounds and professions