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About West Cork Beacon
West Cork Beacon has been operational since 2000, providing support to women experiencing domestic abuse. The organisation operated until 2023 as West Cork Women Against Violence. In 2023, we added a sexual violence support service to our range of client services.
The Beginnings
Since its formation by a small group of volunteers and activists back in 1999, the service has grown from a part-time project offering a one day a week Helpline to a full-time, multi-support organisation providing a range of practical and emotional supports to assist women and their children living with domestic abuse.
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Recent developments:
In 2023, the sexual violence service became available to anyone (men and women) from 14 years upwards who have experienced sexual assault, rape or childhood sexual abuse.
Later in 2023, we branded our service from West Cork Women Against Violence to West Cork Beacon. The old name did not convey the extent of what we do and the array of services we provide. We are now West Cork Beacon. We endeavour to provide hope and guidance in those darkest moments to our service users and West Cork Beacon feels like a true fit for who we are.
Like the range of services offered, the team delivering them has also increased. Our levels of expertise in domestic and sexual violence, trauma and coercive control are often called upon not only by clients but by other professional agencies such as An Garda Siochana, health services and schools.
Knowledge of safety planning, legal protections, court procedure, emergency housing, mental health self- care, parenting alone and children’s emotional well-being are part of the well of information and resources that we can share with clients. An experienced administrative team ensures that day to day communications and finances run smoothly so that everyone else can focus on the needs of you, our clients.
Beacon Stats
How we Operate:
When you first make contact with us, anyone of our personnel may answer your call initially before directing your call to the appropriate support worker. Everyone in West Cork Beacon is bound by the obligations of confidentiality and your call/contact is important to all of us.
At the centre of all our work is the survivor who needs specialised support and safety and most importantly to have their power returned to them. We provide information, advocacy and specialised supports but it is the client who decides what they need, when they want it and how they would like to proceed.
Our Charity Trustees
- Allison Aldred
- Sheila Anne O’Leary
- Kathryn Kingston
- Ann Sullivan
- Anne O’Donovan
- Marie Wiseman
- Fiona O’Driscoll
Our Services
We value all the help and support that we receive from organisations and individuals, and your financial support, whatever the amount, will help us to help those suffering domestic abuse.
West Cork Beacon offers a free and confidential listening, information and support service for women experiencing domestic violence.
West Cork Beacon offers information, support and professional counselling to all survivors of sexual violence.
