Employment for women who have experienced domestic abuse is often key to their empowerment, allowing them to build financial independence and self-esteem. However, survivors often face different kinds of barriers than other job seekers, such as homelessness, involvement in courts, and diminished self-regard. BAME women have additional barriers which may include English as a second language; expectations of female roles from community; and experience or education gained outside the UK.

Works 4 Women (W4W), a program at Edinburgh Women’s Aid run in partnership with Shakti Women’s Aid, provides employability support for women in Edinburgh who are affected by domestic abuse (DA). W4W’s primary goal is to support survivors to attain financial independence through employment, often a key factor in recovery from DA, while focusing on the particular barriers DA can create, such as overcoming low confidence, social isolation, damaged interpersonal skills and decreased motivation.