Women's Aid Ireland

What Women's Aid Ireland does

Women's Aid is a Dublin-headquartered non-profit (registered charity, company limited by guarantee) founded in 1974 and operating as Ireland's leading national organisation dedicated to stopping domestic violence against women and children. It delivers a multi-channel free service portfolio anchored by the 24-hour National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900) — which offers Telephone Interpretation Service coverage across 240+ languages and a Text Service for deaf/hard-of-hearing callers — and the Instant Messaging Support Service, a Genesys-powered webchat available mornings and evenings seven days a week. Face-to-face services include the One-to-One Support Service across five Greater Dublin Area locations (Ballymun, Dublin City Centre North and South, Dun Laoghaire, Swords), the D.A.I.S. Court Support service at Dolphin House Family Law Court (partnered with Inchicore Outreach Service), and a Maternity Outreach Service embedded in three Dublin maternity hospitals (Rotunda, National Maternity Hospital, Coombe). Specialist programmes include the High Risk Support Project (a Vodafone Foundation-funded rapid response system working with An Garda Síochána), the twelve-week Power of Change psychoeducational programme, the Women's Aid Legal Clinic, and the Emergency and Legal Fund.

The technology layer is modest and infrastructure-led: a WordPress website, Google Analytics for visitor statistics, Google reCAPTCHA for spam prevention, Google Maps for location services, Wordfence for security, and Genesys for the webchat channel. The organisation maintains the Femicide Watch — a longitudinal dataset tracking violent deaths of women in Ireland since 1996 — alongside the Too Into You campaign and dedicated platform (toointoyou.ie) targeting 18-25 year olds.

Revenue is generated entirely outside direct service-user fees — all frontline services are free. Income streams comprise statutory government funding from Cuan (the National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency) and Pobal as the primary core funding; foundation and corporate grants (Vodafone Foundation, Community Foundation Ireland, Lifes2Good Foundation); individual donations, regular giving, and community fundraising; paid training delivered through the Centre for Learning and Practice Development; and charity retail shop revenue. Strategic positioning rests on national helpline accreditation, government partnerships, and awareness campaigns with corporate supporters including AIB, Allianz, and Image Skillnet.

Name

Women's Aid Ireland

Legal name

Women's Aid

Website

https://womensaid.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Women's Aid Ireland is a Dublin-based registered charity founded in 1974 providing free national domestic violence support services for women and children, including a 24-hour freephone helpline, webchat, face-to-face outreach, court support, maternity outreach, and research via Femicide Watch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Domestic violence support
• Victim support services
• Helpline services
• Crisis intervention
• Gender-based violence support

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin 2

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Statutory Government Funding: Women's Aid receives core statutory funding from Cuan, the National Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency, and from Pobal, which administers various government programmes. This forms the primary revenue stream supporting frontline services including the National Helpline, One-to-One Services, and the High Risk Support Project.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Support from foundations and corporate partners including the Community Foundation Ireland and specific corporate donors. Grants fund targeted programmes such as the Too Into You campaign (part-funded by Lifes2Good Foundation), the High Risk Support Project (Vodafone Foundation), and awareness campaigns with partners such as AIB, Allianz, and Image Skillnet.
3. Public Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, regular giving, community fundraising events, challenges, and corporate partnerships. The organisation actively promotes one-off and regular donations via its website and runs ongoing fundraising campaigns. Revenue is used to fund vital services not fully covered by statutory funding.
4. Training Course Fees: Women's Aid designs and delivers domestic violence and abuse training to local and national organisations nationwide. Fees from these training courses contribute to revenue, managed through the Centre for Learning and Practice Development.
5. Charity Retail (Shop): Women's Aid operates a charity shop generating retail revenue. Contact: [email protected], Phone: 01-296 0284.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Women's Aid Ireland delivers free, confidential, 24/7 frontline services to women and children experiencing domestic abuse in Ireland. Its core offerings are the 24-hour National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900), Instant Message Support Service, face-to-face One-to-One Support across five Greater Dublin Area locations, court accompaniment, maternity outreach in Dublin hospitals, and the Too Into You campaign for young adults aged 18-25. The organisation also runs specialist programmes (Power of Change, High Risk Support Project, Legal Clinic), professional training through the Centre for Learning and Practice Development, and operates the Femicide Watch research programme.

Product overview

Women's Aid Ireland operates a multi-channel support service portfolio for survivors of domestic abuse. The core offerings include the 24hr National Freephone Helpline (1800 341 900) and Instant Message Support Service as the primary access points, supplemented by face-to-face services including One-to-One Support Service across five Greater Dublin Area locations, the D.A.I.S. Court Support Service at Dolphin House Family Law Court, and the Maternity Outreach Service for pregnant women. Specialist programs include the Power of Change Programme (12-week empowerment course), the High Risk Support Project, Women's Aid Legal Clinic, and Emergency and Legal Fund. Public awareness is driven through the Too Into You campaign targeting young adults (18-25) and the Femicide Watch research initiative. Training services are delivered through the Centre for Learning and Practice Development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Too Into You: A campaign and dedicated website (toointoyou.ie) focused on young people aged 18-25, teaching about healthy relationships, red flags of relationship abuse, and providing support for intimate relationship abuse.

Products and services

• 24hr National Freephone Helpline A free, 24-hour national freephone helpline (1800 341 900) offering confidential emotional support, practical information, safety planning, and referrals to women experiencing domestic abuse. Staffed by trained helpline support workers 365 days a year with a Telephone Interpretation Service covering over 240 languages and a Text Service for deaf and hard-of-hearing women.
• Instant Message Support Service (IMSS) A free, confidential, and secure online instant messaging service staffed by trained helpline workers via Genesys-powered web chat. Available mornings and evenings 7 days a week for women who cannot phone or prefer online contact.
• One-to-One Support Service In-depth face-to-face information and support service for women subjected to domestic violence, operating at five locations in the Greater Dublin Area (Ballymun, Dublin City Centre North and South, Dun Laoghaire, Swords) with appointments available Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Safe alternative locations can be arranged (not in the woman's home).
• D.A.I.S. Court Support Service A free, confidential drop-in information and support service located at Dolphin House Family Law Court (4th Floor, Dublin 2) for women experiencing domestic abuse attending court, operated in partnership with Inchicore Outreach Service. Available Monday to Friday mornings and selected afternoons.
• Maternity Outreach Service A free, confidential specialist support service for pregnant and post-partum women experiencing domestic abuse receiving maternity care from three Dublin maternity hospitals: The Rotunda Hospital, The National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street, and The Coombe Hospital. Referral via Medical Social Workers or self-referral via helpline.
• High Risk Support Project A coordinated rapid response system working closely with An Garda Síochána, the Vodafone Foundation, and local domestic violence services for women and children at high risk of ongoing violence, abuse, and homicide.
• Power of Change Programme A twelve-week psychoeducational course for survivors of domestic abuse who have been free from their abuser for at least one year, designed to empower women and help develop personal boundaries and assertiveness skills.
• Women's Aid Legal Clinic A voluntary and confidential service staffed by volunteer lawyers providing free legal assistance for family law matters related to domestic abuse.
• Emergency and Legal Fund A fund providing financial grants to survivors of domestic abuse to assist with emergency needs and legal costs.
• Centre for Learning and Practice Development Training and professional development services providing domestic violence and abuse training to local and national organisations nationwide, supporting organisations to enhance responses to domestic abuse. Fees-based training delivered to professionals across sectors.
• Too Into You Campaign A public awareness campaign with dedicated website (toointoyou.ie) targeting young people aged 18-25, teaching about healthy relationships, red flags of abuse, providing relationship quizzes, help-a-friend tools, podcast content, and confidential chat support for intimate relationship abuse.
• Femicide Watch A research initiative that records and tracks cases of femicide in the Republic of Ireland since 1996, illustrating the danger posed to women and supporting advocacy for improved protection. As of July 2026, has recorded 286 women killed violently, with 21 children dying in these incidents, 63% killed in their own homes, and 87% of resolved cases involving a man known to the victim.

Quantifiable outcome

• 286 women killed violently recorded by Femicide Watch (1996–July 2026); 21 children died in these incidents; 63% killed in their own homes; 87% of resolved cases were by a known man
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vodafone FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vodafone Foundation partners with Women's Aid on the High Risk Support Project, a coordinated rapid response system for women and children at high risk of ongoing violence, abuse and homicide. Working closely with An Garda Síochána and local domestic violence services, the project delivers a rapid intervention system for the most at-risk women.
• Inchicore Outreach ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInchicore Outreach Service partners with Women's Aid to jointly run the D.A.I.S (Domestic Abuse Information and Support) service at Dolphin House Family Law Court, Dublin. Both organisations' support workers staff the drop-in service, providing information and support to women attending court for domestic violence-related matters.
• AIB (Allied Irish Bank)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Aid partnered with AIB to create the 'Abusive Teller Machine' awareness campaign, highlighting financial abuse in Ireland. The specially programmed ATM at AIB's The Lab in Dundrum Shopping Centre simulated controlling questions common in financially abusive relationships. AIB also provides training for its staff on supporting and referring customers affected by financial abuse.
• Allianz IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Aid and Allianz partnered on the 'World's Strongest Women' awareness campaign, highlighting the resilience, strength and courage of women living through domestic abuse. The campaign pays tribute to courageous women and inspires others that there is a way out, while encouraging families, friends and colleagues to support victims and call out abusive behaviour.
• Image Skillnet (Irish Hairdressers Foundation / Irish Spa Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Aid partnered with Image Skillnet, the Irish Hairdressers Foundation, and the Irish Spa Association to deliver domestic abuse support information sessions, webinars, and resources to hair, beauty, and spa professionals across Ireland. With one in three women in Ireland subjected to domestic abuse, hair and beauty businesses are positioned as a community touchpoint to raise awareness and signpost women to support services.
• Three Dublin Maternity Hospitals (Rotunda, NMH Holles Street, Coombe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Aid's Maternity Outreach Service operates within and in partnership with the three Dublin maternity hospitals — The Rotunda Hospital, The National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street, and The Coombe Hospital. Medical Social Workers in these hospitals refer pregnant and post-partum women experiencing domestic abuse to Women's Aid's specialist support worker.
• WAVE (Women Against Violence Europe)minorOthersWomen's Aid is a member of WAVE, the European network of organisations working to end violence against women and children. Membership provides access to European best practice, research, and cross-border collaboration in the domestic violence sector.
• SAFE IrelandminorOthersWomen's Aid is a member of SAFE Ireland, the national domestic violence coalition bringing together organisations working to end domestic violence. Membership supports coordination, shared learning, and collective advocacy.
• BarnardosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Aid is represented on Barnardos' Childhood Domestic Violence Project Advisory Committee and Children Living with Domestic Violence Community of Practice. This collaboration supports work with children affected by domestic violence.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Samaritans Ireland: Broader crisis-support charity operating a 24/7 helpline across Ireland. Comparable in 24/7 helpline infrastructure and volunteer model but serves a wider, non-specialist population.
• Pieta House: Irish charity providing free therapy for suicide ideation, self-harm, and bereavement. Adjacent in service category (free, frontline mental health support) but serves a different primary need.

Direct peers

• Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: Ireland's primary specialist provider for sexual violence, operating a 24-hour helpline and face-to-face services. Comparable in service model (crisis line, training, advocacy) and target population (women affected by gender-based violence).
• SAFE Ireland: National coalition of domestic violence service providers in Ireland. Directly comparable as the coordinating body for frontline DV services and a member network Women's Aid belongs to.
• Women's Aid (UK): Federated UK charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. Direct peer in mission, scope, and service model, including national helpline, training, and Femicide/Caida data tracking.
• Refuge (UK): UK's largest domestic abuse charity, providing refuges, helpline, and community services. Comparable in scale and service breadth, with a national helpline and operational footprint analogous to Women's Aid's national role in Ireland.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): US-based 24/7 national helpline and resource provider for domestic violence survivors. Comparable in operating model (centralised helpline, digital channels, training) and as a national reference point for the sector.
• Ruhama: Irish NGO supporting women affected by prostitution and sex trafficking. Comparable as a Dublin-based specialist women's NGO with crisis support, training, and policy advocacy; also a direct prior employer of Women's Aid CEO Sarah Benson.

Others

• WAVE (Women Against Violence Europe): European network of NGOs working to end violence against women. Women's Aid is a member; relevant as a peer at the network/advocacy level rather than as a direct service competitor.
• Barnardos: Ireland's leading children's charity. Women's Aid is represented on Barnardos' Childhood Domestic Violence Project Advisory Committee, making it a key systems partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/womensaidireland.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@womensaidireland
• Facebookfacebook.com/womensaid.ie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women's-aid
• Instagraminstagram.com/womens.aid

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women's Aid Ireland