Wake Smith supports domestic abuse charity

A Sheffield-based charity which has offered specialist domestic abuse support for more than 50 years has been chosen by Wake Smith as their charity of the year for the next year.

Sheffield Women’s Aid (SWA) was established in 1974 and helps survivors of domestic abuse cope and recover through safe, confidential accommodation and dedicated trauma-informed support from experienced practitioners.

The charity is based in Sheffield but houses women and children from anywhere in the UK who need a place of safety away from violence, including coercive control and psychological abuse. In 2025 Sheffield Women’s Aid supported 89 women and 59 children in its safe accommodation and a further 13 women and 25 children in its dispersed accommodation. 

Wake Smith employees, who voted to support the charity until April 2027, will be undertaking various fundraising events over the coming year, and will be hoping to beat their recently unveiled 2025-2026 total of £7,872 raised for Support Dogs UK.

SWA CEO Hollie Venn said: “Sheffield Women’s Aid supports around 50 women, and at least as many children at any given time, and are one of the few domestic abuse specialists who can offer safe accommodation to pets too. 

“Families live with the charity on average for between 9-14 months. Their experiences of abuse are life changing and have lasting impact. 

“We are absolutely delighted to be supported in our mission by Wake Smith Solicitors who will be fundraising for our charity. Funds raised will enable us to literally save lives as all money raised goes directly into supporting women and children. Domestic abuse is everyone’s business and by fundraising for Sheffield Women’s Aid you not only directly support survivors, you help increase awareness of the issue.

“Thank you on behalf of all the women, children, and pets we support at Sheffield Women’s Aid.”

Kate Lax, director at Wake Smith and charitable board member, said: “We will be looking closely at how we can support this established Sheffield charity over the next year and promote the important support it provides to women from across the country. The onus on us this year, to get involved as much as we can and come up with some inspirational fundraising ideas.

“Part of our role is to raise the profile of the charity to allow survivors to know there is support available.  

“We look forward to working with the team and helping fundraise to support their vital services.”

SWA has two refuges at undisclosed locations and 10 dispersed houses in the community and supports 50 women (plus their children from birth) at any one time. Refuges have individual bedrooms and communal areas allowing time and space to recover until survivors can set up on their own. 

SWA works closely with other agencies including social care, education services, the police, the health service and other voluntary sector organisations. 

1 in 4 women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime. On average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every 5 days in England and Wales. The police receive a domestic abuse related call every 30 seconds.

The Wake Smith charitable board includes Kate Lax, Aithne Moran, Anna Woodcock, Caitlin Davis, Charlotte Wallage, Lucy Tootil, Laura Saul, Eleanor Storey, Georgia Peters, Stephanie Chung, Dylan Friend, Martha Green, Daisy Cowley and Sophie Kerry.

For more information about Wake Smith Solicitors click here

To find our more about Sheffield Women’s Aid visit www.sheffieldwomensaid.org.uk