Refuge is now moving with times

Since its opening in 1998, the refuge has done some excellent work in helping the victims of domestic abuse and violence and raising the profile of what is a serious problem in the island.

The care provided by the volunteers and the service has been hugely appreciated by its distressingly high number of users and, for some, it has been potentially life-saving.

Yet behind the scenes there have been concerns about the way the refuge has been run and the way those responsible have handled criticism.

This is a sensitive area. GWR is a lifeline service for local women and they have to have confidence in it. So the concerns were muted and far from welcome. Then the Home Department commissioned a report into its operation.

Now we know that the refuge is to be run by Safer, which is acknowledged to be at the forefront of dealing with abuse, and that is a good outcome.

The old team was resistant to change and the result, according to abuse campaigner Deputy Elis Bebb, was a regime failing to meet minimum standards.

This acknowledgement that improvements have to be made will not be comfortable for some. But as we reported on Monday, the way the refuge had drifted from the modern mainstream was too great to be allowed to continue.

The chairman of GWR, Deputy Mary Lowe, was yesterday very critical of our coverage, which she claimed was 'harmful to the work and reputation of the refuge'.

If, however, she and her board had been more open-minded in these areas and responsive to the concerns, Deputy Bebb might not be writing: 'Given the severity of our problem, we need to

ensure that the women entering the refuge receive the care and attention that they deserve.'

The need for the refuge is, unfortunately, more necessary than ever and it is now going forward on a stronger footing.