Stand with Women at The Well

25 November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This year, we're asking businesses and partners to stand with the women we work alongside every day and with us.

Violence against women stops women from being free and living the lives they choose. It shapes everyday decisions about safety, work, family and travel. Ending it is not only a job for the government and specialist services. Employers, businesses, community leaders, friends and family all have a part to play.

Why this matters

Around 25% (1 in 4) of women have experienced domestic abuse by a partner/former partner during their adult lives in England and Wales.

Around 9% of women have experienced rape, and 27% of women have experienced sexual assault during their adult lives

12% of women have experienced sexual abuse before the age of 16

Violence against women and girls has risen 37% in five years*

While these figures are stark, the risk is far greater for women already living with disadvantage.

Behind these figures are a smaller group of women who have experienced abuse repeatedly, often from childhood, and who live with its consequences in their housing, health and finances. These are many of the women we see. 76% of the women we have to do casework with have survived sexual violence.

With limited access to safe support, many women are forced into situations that compromise their safety and dignity - including exploitative relationships, transactional sex, or coerced criminal activity - simply to survive.

These are not free choices. They are the result of deep disadvantage, limited options and a lack of safe, women-only spaces where women can be believed, supported and helped to rebuild their lives.

 (*ONS, Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending March 2025).

How You Can Get Involved

What we do

Women at the Well is a women-only space in central London. Women come to our drop-in for a hot meal, a shower, laundry, clean clothes or somewhere safe to sit, with no pressure to explain why they're there. For many, this is where a longer relationship begins: one-to-one support with housing, benefits, health and safety, at a pace that works for each woman. Our outreach team meets women where they are, including in hostels, on the street and in places where they are being exploited.

Demand has risen sharply. There were 3,521 visits to our weekday drop-in centre in 2025 compared with 1,692 visits in 2024.

What we're calling for

Our 2026 Insights Briefing sets out what needs to change.

 

To talk about how your organisation can get involved, contact our Head of Fundraising, Joanna Rolfe