Ashleywood House and Mews opens with act of reflection

For the women (and children) who reach out to Foyle Women’s Aid the opening of the multi-million pound Ashleywood complex will mark the closing of a bleak chapter in their lives and will be the first building block in the process of a vulnerable person being able to rebuild themselves and open the door to a new life free from violence.

Nestling in a shaded garden, the state-of-the-art facility lies on the outskirts of the city, complete with a dedicated secure play area, and there is also one-stop-shop access to the myriad of support and help services that women fleeing violence might need access - all of which is available in the new Domestic Abuse Centre.

The opening of Ashleywood is the culmination of Phase 1 of the expansive, imaginative plans of local women’s campaigner Marie Brown. The radically remodelled facility for women and their children fleeing the nightmare of domestic abuse is very much her brainchild right down to the variety of accommodation, from one, two or three-bedroom self-contained units to the bungalows which also contain special provision for those having to cope with disabilities as well as huge upheaval in their lives.

The mews with it’s attractive 12 townhouse units (formerly disused coach houses) set around an open plan square with tasteful planting and the three bungalows, all of which are fully equipped with electrical equipment, beds, linen, cutlery and crockery, is to be complemented with the building of a Child Care Unit, which is due to open in the Spring of next year. And then there’s Marie’s plans, now at an advanced stage, for the opening of a US-style Family Justice Centre in partnership with the Family Justice Centres that are operating in Europe.

But this new centre is so much more than just bricks and mortar as Foyle Women’s Aid, in conjunction with training agency AVERT, will deliver specialist programmes and activities designed to assist recovery for families surviving abuse and all of this will also help contribute to the creation of a safer community by eliminating domestic abuse and promoting non-violent behaviour.

All of these units and the support centre are in addition to other safe, secure accommodation that is available in the Foyle area, to women and children irrespective of their religious or cultural background.

The opening ceremony, on Friday began with registration and coffee before Ms Brown performed the official welcome.

First to applaud Marie and her team and partnership organisations was the Mayor, Martin Reilly, who described the facility as “fantastic”. He said the creation of the complex has taken a lot of work and effort and he particularly payed tribute to the FWA staff and Marie Brown, whom he described as a “tireless comapigner”.

Noting that it was the first complex of its kind in Ireland, he said Derry City Council was very supportive of the work carried out by Foyle Women’s Aid.

The guest of honour was Rt Hon Baroness Angela Evans Smith of Basildon, a Birish labour Co-Operative politician, who was the MP for Basildon from 1997 until 2010. A life Peer since 2010, Baroness Smith is a patron of Basildon Women’s Aid and a Trustee and chairperson of Resolving Chaos, among other organisations. (See page 8)

Giving a flavour of what is to come in terms of support and facilities for survivors of domestic abuse, Anthony Polychronakis, chairman of the Family Justice Centres in Europe gave a slide show presentation of his organisation’s work in Europe and in the USA. In addition to being a politician and councillor in the Netherlands, Mr Polychronakis is the current European Programme Officer for Rotterdam and was responsible for the approach to domestic abuse and elder abuse in Rotterdam.

One of the biggest supporters and partners of Foyle Women’s Aid is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and the organisation’s Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships, Colm McQuillan, also spoke at the event and paid tribute to the vision and drive of Ms Brown and her team.

However, the short address by Darren McGrellis, brother of Caroline Crossan, who died due to domestic abuse at the hands of her husband in 1997, brought home to the 150 delegates at the opening ceremony, of the vital role Ashleywood House and Mews will play in helping prevent the destructive force of domestic violence. In addition to telling the gathering of what he thought was a positive relationship he initially enjoyed with his brother-in-law he also spoke of the desolation and sense of loss he felt, and still felt today, when he realised what relationship his sister had with her husband - a relationship that killed her. he said the sense of loss never left him.

Darren attended the event in place of his mother Bridie, who was unable to attend.

The McGrellis family has campaigned since 1997 to raise awareness about domestic violence and Darren spoke about how his sister’s death had effected him, his sense of loss and the desolation he had felt since his sister’s death.

Following the formalities, Foyle Women’s Aid was presented with an ‘Investors in People Award by Baroness Basildon, and gifts of City of Derry crystal were made to each of the speakers as well as to long-term volunteer and FWA supporter Dilys Crockett.

Prior to lunch being served and guided tours of the facility were conducted, delegates were invited to tie a crimson ribbon onto a Christmas tree in the Mews, signifying the hundreds of women who had been helped by Women’s Aid during 2013 so far.

To view the Londonderry Sentinel’s video of the ceremony and to hear from Marie Brown and Baroness Basildon log on at www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk.