OVER 3,500 women and children used the services of Foyle Women's Aid last year, according to figures released on Thursday.
The organisation, which offers support to victims of domestic violence, reported an increase in the numbers coming forward for help, with a rise in women from rural areas, ethnic communities and older women.
The agency, which has offices in Limavady
, Derry and Strabane, released the figures at its annual general meeting last Thursday in the Calgach Centre.
"We have worked hard to break through barriers that prevent women coming forward for help and the figures show that we have been successful," said Marie Brown, Area Co-ordinator for Foyle Women's Aid.
Outgoing chairperson of the Management Committee, Juliette Barber said that 2007/8 had been a significant year for Foyle Women's Aid.
"Amidst the challenges of operating in the current climate the organisation has found opportunities and we therefore find ourselves in a stronger position to deliver our services to those who need it," she said.
The meeting also heard from guest speaker on the day, Detective Inspector Tara Nicholl, who is heading up the new PSNI Public Protection Unit, which was set up to tackle child abuse, domestic violence, missing persons and to manage sex offenders in the community.
The new unit, which covers the Foyle, Strabane, Limavady and Magherafelt areas, will identify and share intelligence within and between agencies in order to make connections between child and domestic abuse, sex offenders and missing vulnerable people.
The Public Protection Units were set up directly in response to the outcomes of a number of recent inquiries which looked into the death of Victoria Climbie, the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in Soham and the Northern Ireland Office report into Childrens Care Homes.
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