WHO WE ARE
Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services is comprehensive domestic violence service for women in the Meath area. We have been in operation for over thirty years and we receive annual funding from Tusla Child and Family Agency, Victims of Crime, a range of corporate and philanthropic partners and generous donations from our friends and supporters. We have 24 staff, with 19 staff dedicated to our frontline work.
OUR HISTORY
Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services was established by local volunteers in 1987. A group of local women worked on a voluntary basis to research the needs of women in the area in the 1980’s. Discovering that domestic violence was one of four key issues affecting women in Meath, this group of women went on to research best practice responses and established a refuge in 1987.
The refuge was initially staffed on a voluntary basis but in 1990 we secured ongoing funding from Meath County Council, the HSE and the Department of Environment, which established and resourced the service for women in Meath.
STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE
Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services is commissioned by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency to provide supports to women and children affected by domestic abuse in county Meath.
The day-to-day management of the organisation is undertaken by a manager who overseas our team of approximately 24staff working in our refuge, outreach programme and our child services. Our organisation is overseen by a voluntary board of directors bringing expertise from business, social and community sectors.
Our independent board is recruited using a transparent board recruitment process and the manager of Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services reports to the board. Board members are not remunerated for their time and work nor are they reimbursed for any expenses for travelling etc. Formal disclosure of board member’s interests are updated and the board operates to its governance handbook as part of the annual audit process.
The Finance and Risk Sub-Committee oversees the finances and annual audit and it has a set terms of reference for this committee.
The organisation undertakes an annual audit and from 2019 onwards our audited accounts have been prepared in accordance with SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting).
Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services is a registered charity (charity no.8685) and we work hard to be completely transparent to our funders and supporters regarding funds raised and money spent.
We are also a registered company and you can find our details on the Companies Registration Office website using our company number 127494.
The directors of the board for 2022-2023 are Sinead Gogan, Frank Long, Michele Sweeney, Claire Sheerin, Richelle Manning, Sinead Christian, Liam Keane & Meabh Smith.