Our Story.
We are so proud of our beginnings and where we have been and where we are going. The people we have helped during this time. We are truly grateful to all of those that have helped as well.
Our Story makes us feel proud.
Changing Pathways (formerly known as Basildon Women’s Aid) has been an integral part of the local South Essex and Thurrock community for over forty years and over this time has supported thousands of adults and their children to escape abusive relationships and move on with their lives.
Changing Pathways has a long history of service in its mission to support people experiencing domestic abuse. Over the years, the organisation has evolved as required, to remain aligned with the needs of the individuals we support.
for women and
children is
opened in
West London
Corporation
provides first
refuge house
in Basildon
for Basildon
Women’s Refuge
granted and
second refuge
house opens
appeal provides
funding to
develop specialist
services for
children and
young people in
the area
and move-on
sites acquired
in Basildon
Women’s Centre
opens providing
outreach support
in Basildon
tion’s name
changes
to Basildon
Woman’s Aid
Basildon
Woman’s Aid
and Thurrock
Domestic Abuse
Services
name changes to
Changing
Pathways
victims of stalking
gardens
office opens
in Harlow
providing
outreach and
IDVA services
in West Essex
Pathways delivers
support to over
2500 individuals
throughout the
COVID-19
pandemic
Pathways
welcomes
new CEO
Tania Woodgate
History founded on Women’s Aid.
Founded in 1977, during the women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the first refuge house was opened in Basildon, Essex. Basildon Women’s Refuge grew over the years, achieving charity status and a second house in 1980. By 2005, the current refuge site and move-on accommodation had been acquired in Basildon, significantly increasing the number of women the refuge could provide safety to.
In 1999 the refuge started to offer outreach services to women and children in the community for the first time. The opening of the Parklands Women’s Centre in 2001 extended its community based services. Located near the centre of Basildon the services were readily accessible to visitors and women needing our service. In 2011 the service was relocated to Parklands II site in Felmores when the old site was sold off to build new flats and houses. This centre away from our refuge sites is the main place that our group and therapy work takes place. Today the organisation reaches over 1,300 individuals each year.
In 2005 Basildon Women’s Refuge changed its name to Basildon Women’s Aid to reflect the more diverse work in the community carried out from its Outreach Centre. Following the merger of Basildon Women’s Aid and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Services in 2015, Changing Pathways was created to take the Organisation forward yet again, to develop and grow our specialist domestic abuse support services in South Essex and Thurrock.
Following our successes in the south of the region, in 2019 we were asked to provide services in Harlow, Epping Forest and Brentwood, expanding our reach into West Essex. Our regional office at Harlow Watergardens offers even more scope to support families in Essex.
Today, we are proud of the high quality support services that Changing Pathways offers to survivors of domestic abuse which have been accredited by Women’s Aid Federation England through their National Quality Standards.
