About us
Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid is a domestic abuse charity and feminist organisation founded in 1981. We are Scotland’s first Asian, Black and Minority Ethnic Women’s Aid Group.
Built on grassroots beginnings and pioneered by women volunteers, we have expanded our services over the past 45 years. Today, we provide a culturally sensitive bilingual specialised service primarily to women, children, and young people from the minority ethnic communities who are experiencing domestic abuse, honour-based abuse, forced marriage and other forms of domestic abuse. Our services include refuge accommodation, outreach, follow-on services and support.
Our staff embody a diverse range of backgrounds and are dedicated to the work of the project, as well as upholding the organisations’ intersectional feminist principles and values. Our staff are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced.
Our commitment is to the vulnerable women, children and young people requiring our help, support and protection. Our vision is to continue to maintain excellence in all aspects of our single sex service provision in terms of the Equality Act 2010.
We are grateful to all our funders for the financial support they provide to the organisation. This allows service provisions to flourish and for more vulnerable victims to receive bespoke support. It also supports our wider commitments and campaigning to end violence against women and girls in Glasgow and Scotland.
Finally, we acknowledge the immense courage of women, children and young people and their bravery in escaping the clutches of domestic abuse and confronting cultural barriers, enabling them to live a safer and prosperous life.
Our services
- A safe and anonymous refuge centre for women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse
- Crisis support helpline and drop-in service
- Outreach services for women, children and young people
- Follow on services for women, children and young people
- Play therapy for children experiencing domestic abuse
- Women’s Group for survivors in outreach and follow on services
- Training and development for individuals and workplaces
- Campaigns on issues relating to domestic abuse and Asian, Black and Minority Ethnic communities
- Research and resources for general public, professionals and survivors
Our Board of Trustees
Our Board is led by a diverse group of strong feminist women, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise from a variety of backgrounds to promote a strong strategic lead and robsut governance for the organisation. The Board meet regularly with Directors.
Our Drop-In Centre
Address: Flat 0/1, 24 Willowbank Street, Glasgow G3 6LZ
Crisis, outreach and follow-on helpline: 0141 353 0859
What does Hemat Gryffe mean?
Hemat – is the Persian word for courage.
Gryffe – the project was initially named Gryffe Women’s Aid as the first refuge was situated near the river Gryffe in Kilmacolm for sixteen years. We are now widely known as Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid, Glasgow.
Together the words stand for 'A River of Courage'. We were taken aback when in a particular case a survivor had thanked us for support and said she felt like a river of courage had been instilled in her.
