RAF officer honoured for donations to Women's Aid

Sarah Saunderson • Published 18 Feb 2010 10:33 0 Comments

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Mr. Robert Irvine (right) Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, hosting a reception at Enniskillen Townhall with (from left) RAF Warrent Officer Graham Thompson, Mary McCann, Women's Aid and Judena Goldring, Chief Executive NI Law Commission.

A RAF Station Warrant officer's support for Fermanagh Women's Aid was celebrated last week when a reception was held in his honour at the Townhall in Enniskillen.

Jointly hosted by Fermanagh Women's Aid and Fermanagh District Council, the ceremony for Graham Thompson marked years of support for the organisation that supports victims of domestic abuse.

Graham's connection to the county is though his wife Susan, who comes from Fermanagh. Four times a year he has organised a large load of furniture, bedroom furniture, children's cots, buggies, kitchen equipment, toys and clothes to be given to women and children in need here.

Mr. Thompson asks for donations among the RAF, then collects and stores the goods and organises the logistics of getting the items to Fermanagh, both loading and unloading them.

"Many times it is with this furniture that a woman and her children start their new lives," said Fermanagh Women's Aid manager, Mary McCann.

"The dedication Graham has shown to his work is sometimes unbelievable. At Christmas, he requested monies from his superiors for women and children. This donation has ranged from £200 to £500 per Christmas. Graham and his wife Susan have also personally donated wonderful Christmas presents to the children most in need of our charity". The load delivered in October, with Graham's permission, raised £1,200 for Fermanagh Women's Aid in a sale.

Ms. Judena Goldring, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Law Commission, presented certificates and tokens of appreciation to Graham, and his wife Susan on behalf of Fermanagh Women's Aid at the Townhall event.

"The work of Women's Aid is essential. And the practical support of compassionate and civicly minded individuals such as Graham and Susan greatly aids this work," said Ms. Goldring.

"Funding is a problem for everybody. It is a battle for funding. We in Fermanagh are quite successful and only successful because we have people of Graham's calibre behind us," said Ms. McCann. Local MLAs and the Community Safety Partnership, Fermanagh District Council are also "very supportive".

It takes £143,000 a year to run Fermanagh Women's Aid. The organisation helps up to 350 women a year. Any given month there will be 90 women and 60 children on its books all across the county from all social spheres. Women of all ages seek help.

"What we can offer a woman is immediate refuge, with a bed and warmth and a support service if she needs to go to court. What we can't address in Fermanagh is our refuge. It is not appropriate. It has only five bedrooms with a small kitchen. It is communal living. We can't have young boys of over 16," said Ms. McCann

"The Housing Executive are wonderful. A woman had a 17-year-old son and we rang and they were able to offer crisis accommodation so the women's children could be with her.

"That is wonderful but it is not enough. We want four supported units, separate homes. Women are entitled to the dignity of turning a key in their own door. They would be under the same roof with one communal area. The most dangerous time for a woman is when she is about to leave and when she actually leaves. It is the most dangerous time round her physical safety and that of her children," she said.

Fermanagh Women's Aid has 11 staff. Three undertake community work, with 30 women on their individual books. Of the three childcare staff, one does prevention work in schools, visiting every school in Fermanagh to talk about issues such as developing healthy relationships. Children have come home from these talks and relate how Women's Aid could help in their own home life. "We have had four children this year who have heard the talk and went home to say there was help for us," Ms. McCann said. Other staff work in administration and the refuge. A core of volunteers also undertakes very important work including supporting women going to court.

Fermanagh Women's Aid can be contacted by calling 6632 8898.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 18 Feb 10

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