Groups prepare refuge centre for women

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33612, 14 August 1974, Page 6

Groups prepare refuge centre for women

Within two or three weeks Christchurch will have a women’s centre providing emergency accommodation and a meeting place for women’s i groups.

The centre, which is| at 249 Kilnioie Street, is being run by the Christchurch feminist groups, , Radical Feminists and [Sisters for Homophile [ Equality, with help from ithe National Organisa-, tion of Women, and the: l University Feminists i group. I Mrs Joy Edwards, a; (spokeswoman for the centre,: (said yesterday that it wouldi ibe for women only, and I would provide an emergency ! refuge for women in trouble I who had nowhere else to go. She said there would always be someone on duty :to provide all kinds of assistance. Working bees I The centre is a three-bed-room house. Ms Edwards said there would be a lounge and dining-room for the use of those staying there, as well as a large meeting room, which was originally; two rooms. All the work, including plastering, taking out a wall, and painting, had been done oy women, and maintenance and repairs would be carried out by women. Ms Edwards said that 15 to 20 women had come to each of the working bees, and at least 40 were involved in the ; centre. Many gifts I Finances would be run on i a pledge system, and already I money for the rent, telephone. and about half the estimated electricity bill, had I been pledged. Gifts of furniture, cur-; tains, kitchen utensils, and; I toys had been received b I There was also a workshop. | I Ms Edwards said the

; I centre, based on a larger j centre in Copenhagen, would expand as the need arose. ’ “If the need is there we will , probably have to get a big1 ger place,” she said. ' ■ Self-defence . As well as plans for a 24- , I hour creche, Ms Edwards ; i said the centre would prob- ’ ably run classes on women’s self-defence, budgeting, and even school subjects for 1; those women who had not ; , had the opportunity, or who if had been discouraged from i continuing their education. Y The services offered would e also include counselling, and • Ms Edwards said that 1 women psychiatrists would y be approached to help withi f this. The centre would provide| | a non-threatening place; I where women could go. “Some women lose their in-' 5 itiative in the presence of( e men,” she said. Women! , would be able to meet and g encourage each other there,! ; one such group would be a! ’ women artists group. Meeting at the centre , would “iron out demarcation 5 between women’s groups, by providing contacts between ' them.