A five-figure financial boost has allowed the London Abused Women's Centre (LAWC) to expand services to meet the increased demand for help by area women and girls.
The non-profit agency received $56,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Resilient Communities Fund. It used the money to improve access to in-person and outreach programs for women and girls who have suffered domestic violence, expand the waiting room, and begin offering childcare to clients accessing services.
The grant was acquired at a time when the centre was seeing more people seeking help during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Receiving this grant has allowed us to settle into our new normal. We can continue to provide service to women and girls by being accessible to all," said LAWC Executive Director Jennifer Dunn. "This grant also allowed us to hear experiences and stories from women with lived experience. It continues to be an honour to work with survivors to raise awareness of the impacts of male violence against women in our community."
The centre is staffed by fewer than 20 people and responds to thousands of calls for assistance every year.
"I'd like to give my heartfelt congratulations to LAWC on this well-deserved $56,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund,” said London North Centre MPP Terence Kernaghan. “LAWC does incredible work year-round in the fight to end violence against women and girls through counselling and support while advocating for systemic change. I know these funds will go a long way to improve access to LAWC’s programming and staff development, which is great news for London North Centre."
The Ontario Trillium Foundation put nearly $209 million toward 2,042 community projects and partnerships across the province last year.
