Meet Tilly..

Hi there, I’m Tilly and I am one of the placement counsellors at West Lothian Women’s Aid.

I’ve been here nearly a year, seeing women for weekly counselling sessions, so they have the space to talk about their experiences and begin to recover from their experiences in an environment where they can feel safe and understood.

I’m a person-centred therapist, and this just means that the counselling sessions I have with women are entirely on their terms and at their pace. We don’t push anyone to go faster than they feel able, but are ready to be there for whatever they bring, with no judgement and complete acceptance.

Working at Women’s Aid is an extraordinary privilege. I know, working at Women’s Aid, that there is an entire team dedicated to helping women who have experienced domestic abuse, and this means that there is support available for the women I see in any way they may be struggling during their recovery, as well as advice and support with the systems and processes such as the police, the courts and housing. Every week I know I am coming to a place where I know we’re all working towards the same goal of helping women who have experienced gender based violence, and running prevention and education programs to stop the abuse before it begins.

We are so much more than what happens to us and I am so grateful to join women on their journey, to be part of the work they are doing to recover, and to see what a difference both counselling, and the broader work of Women’s Aid, can make to women’s lives. It’s a huge privilege to be trusted with their experiences and feelings, and every woman I have met in the counselling room has been extraordinary. A survivor.

If you’ve experienced abuse and are looking for a place to talk, I hope you find your way to us. And if you do, I look forward to meeting you soon.

Meet Kat..

I’m Kat, and I’ve worked for West Lothian Women’s Aid for just over 2 years.

In my role as our Administrative & Funding Coordinator, my position encompasses many tasks, duties and responsibilities, and every day is different! I thrive on the variety of my role and the freedom I’ve been given to really make it my own.

I was inspired to apply to join the WLWA team following recovery from my own experience of domestic abuse; something which I’d never quite grasped the gravity and impact of until it happened to me.

Working for WLWA is more than just a career, it’s a real opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of women and children affected by domestic abuse. From the moment I joined this incredible organization, I was struck by the unwavering commitment of my colleagues. Every day, I witness a team of compassionate, dedicated individuals working tirelessly to provide support, advocacy, and hope to those in often desperate need. The sense of solidarity and mutual support within our team of women is truly powerful.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of the job is being a small part of the bigger goal to helping women rebuild their lives. Witnessing their resilience and courage is both humbling and inspiring. Each client through our doors reaffirms the importance of our work.

One of the elements of my role is in maintaining and cultivating our social media presence, creating the website you are reading this from now, and subsequently raising awareness of our work.  By raising awareness, and challenging societal attitudes, we also strive to address the root causes of domestic abuse. Knowing that we’re part of a movement for long-term change is incredibly motivating. Working in this organisation isn’t without its challenges though; domestic abuse remains a deeply entrenched issue, and there are moments when the scale of the problem feels overwhelming. But these obstacles also fuel our determination to fight for change and to ensure safety and a future free from harm for women and children.

At West Lothian Women’s Aid, we believe that everyone has the right to live free from fear and abuse. Our work is about more than just providing support—it’s about creating a society where women children and young people are safe, valued, and respected. Being part of this mission is a privilege I don’t ever take for granted.

Kat x

Allow us to Reintroduce Ourselves…

Our website has had a makeover, so we thought it only right that we take a moment to introduce ourselves and explain a little about the work we do for any first-time visitors!

West Lothian Women’s Aid (WLWA) is a registered charity operating since 1980. We have been consistently providing safe, temporary accommodation to women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, along with offering a variety of other additional support services including Counselling, Group Support and Activity Programmes for Children and Young People.

We continue to work closely with West Lothian Council and Scottish Women’s Aid as well as a number of other organisations whose assistance helps us to carry out our vital work.

WLWA is now over 40 years strong and a trusted organisation locally and nationally. We are a fully inclusive organisation, and recently received the LGBT Charter Mark award in recognition of inclusive practice and service provision to the LGBT community.  

The impact on the COVID 19 pandemic on women and children experiencing domestic abuse has been profound, with women, children and young people experiencing significant increased risks of harm and/or actual harm and less opportunities to seek support and the associated trauma of these experiences. Our work is more vital than ever.

We are all hugely proud to be a part of WLWA and continue to strive to provide the best services possible informed by a gendered and human rights approach, coproduced with women and children and embracing our leadership role in our community and partnerships.

Browse our new site and learn more about the services we offer, work we do and how to contact us should you or anyone you know may need our help.

You are not alone.