A trusted bridge: Women’s Inclusive Team on domestic abuse and mental health

How a community-rooted organisation in Tower Hamlets combines trusted advocacy, practical support and awareness-raising to help people recognise abuse, protect their wellbeing and rebuild their independence.

Support shaped by the community

Women’s Inclusive Team (WIT) grew from a simple but powerful act of mutual support. Founded in 2004 as the Somali Integration Team, it began when a small group of Somali mothers in Tower Hamlets came together after having their first children. They shared feelings of isolation, uncertainty and difficulty navigating services that did not always feel accessible or culturally appropriate. From those grassroots beginnings, WIT has developed into an organisation supporting women from disadvantaged backgrounds, their children and wider families across Tower Hamlets and, where funding allows, neighbouring boroughs and pan-London communities.

At the heart of its approach is what the team calls a “holistic hug”: a woman may first seek housing advice, but the conversation may reveal concerns about childcare, special educational needs and disabilities, domestic abuse, financial control or mental health. WIT responds by connecting her with its own services and trusted partners. Its work includes advice and guidance, nursery and youth provision, SEND support, community connectors, mental health activity and the Howa domestic abuse project.

Recognising abuse and protecting wellbeing

Many people who approach WIT do not initially identify their experience as domestic abuse. Public understanding can still focus narrowly on physical violence, while coercive control, financial abuse, restriction and isolation may be normalised or go unnamed. WIT helps clients understand different forms of abuse, their rights, the features of a healthy relationship and the practical options available to them. Crucially, it offers a trusted and culturally aware space for people who may not feel able to approach mainstream services.

Domestic abuse and mental health are closely connected. Fear, control and prolonged harm can affect a survivor’s emotional wellbeing long after an immediate crisis, while poor mental health can make it harder to seek help or navigate complex systems. By discussing the two together, WIT can identify needs earlier and offer support that addresses safety, recovery and the wider circumstances affecting a family.

Taking awareness into everyday spaces

Alongside one-to-one advocacy, WIT works with local organisations, health services and community venues to make information visible and approachable. Regular workshops explore women’s safety, wellbeing and mental health. The team has collaborated with Tower Hamlets services, local GP practices and other community partners, and uses campaigns to explain the signs of abuse and where support can be found.

A bus-stop campaign for the 2025 16 Days of Activism placed messages about the signs and symptoms of abuse in busy public locations. Such communication can reach people WIT may never meet directly, helping someone recognise what is happening and make an informed decision. Workshops also equip volunteers and community leaders to share knowledge through their own networks, creating a wider and longer-lasting ripple effect.

Inclusion also means considering how people access buildings, information and events. WIT’s venue offers wheelchair access and staff provide practical support to attendees with disabilities. Feedback from Vision Ability has helped the organisation improve colour contrast and strengthen the accessibility of its website, including compatibility with audio tools. The team is continuing to consider accessible formats and the needs of people with sight or hearing loss.

Trust that can change lives

One anonymised case shows why trusted, responsive advocacy matters. A woman first encountered WIT while accompanying a friend and, after seeing the support available, disclosed that she was experiencing severe abuse. During the period in which WIT supported her, an adviser remained connected during an immediate threat and contacted the police, enabling emergency intervention and helping the woman reach safety. She was subsequently rehoused confidentially and, at the time of the interview, was reported to be doing well. The account illustrates how an accessible community service can enable disclosure, coordinate urgent action and remain alongside someone through recovery.

Recovery is also about rebuilding confidence and independence. Through work at the Nari Centre, women identified driving as an important step after leaving controlling relationships in which a partner had always driven. WIT responded with theory-test sessions, turning what might seem like a practical goal into a route towards greater autonomy. The team has also seen growing engagement from the Bangladeshi community, demonstrating how trust can spread across communities when support is consistent, welcoming and rooted locally.

Partnerships that keep the focus on people

WIT’s impact depends on strong referral routes and collaboration. Its inclusion in the Tower Hamlets referral system is helping professionals connect people with support, while partnership activity at the Nari Centre and coordination through Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service help organisations work around a shared purpose: meeting community need rather than operating in isolation.

Funding remains a pressing challenge. Short funding cycles can place proven services under strain even when demand is clear. WIT’s message is that awareness activity, culturally responsive advocacy and partnership infrastructure must be sustained. The organisation intends to keep listening, learning and adapting with local people and partners so that support becomes stronger and more inclusive.

“A problem is never too small and a problem is never too big.” WIT encourages anyone who is worried about themselves or someone else to start a conversation. The team will offer support where it can and involve specialist partners when needed. Its commitment is simple: to remain a trusted bridge, strengthen local services and help people move towards safety, wellbeing and independence.