Women Acting In Todays Society

Charity 1135026

www.waitsaction.org

Overview

Summary

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

WAITS appears to operate as a specialist, women-led pathway from immediate safety towards longer-term independence and civic participation. Its role extends beyond domestic-abuse support: it combines refuge, advocacy and counselling with support for women affected by offending, skills development and community organising. The organisation’s particular focus on Global Majority women suggests it may occupy an important bridging role where gendered violence, racial inequality, exclusion and contact with public systems overlap.

See observations

Operational geography

Sources:ONSCivic AtlasAI-assisted

Coverage: Citywide

Operational areas:

  • City Centre
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
City Centre

Confidence: high

Direct current evidence identifies the Wesleyan Building, Colmore Circus, as WAITS's staffed office and assessment location. Colmore Circus is within Birmingham City Centre.

  • WAITS – Referrals to WAITS
    WAITS states that self-referral assessments are arranged 'here at our office' at Wesleyan Building, Colmore Circus, Birmingham.
  • WAITS – Contact Us
    WAITS publishes weekday opening hours and its contact address as Wesleyan Building, Colmore Circus, Birmingham, supporting that this is an active operational office rather than only a registered address.
Remaining uncertainties
  • The evidence supports a citywide operational identity within Birmingham, but does not identify the neighbourhoods or wards in which floating support, workshops, advocacy or community-integration activity is delivered.
  • WAITS operates four confidential Iona House refuge locations 'set in and around Birmingham'. Their locations should not be inferred or disclosed because WAITS explicitly withholds them for safeguarding.
  • WAITS says it has worked in 'Birmingham and the surrounding areas', but the current evidence does not establish the extent, regularity or boundaries of operational delivery outside Birmingham.
  • WAITS states that it works with other agencies for holistic support, but the available evidence does not name delivery partners or show that any partnership creates a distinct, evidenced geographic footprint.
Additional evidence needed
  • A current annual or impact report showing referral origins, service-delivery locations, or the geographic catchment of each core service.
  • Current commissioning, funding or partnership documentation specifying the Birmingham area or wider geography covered by WAITS's domestic-abuse, offender-support and community-integration services.
  • Non-sensitive aggregate information on the wards or districts where floating support, workshops and outreach are delivered.

Areas of work

Source:Charity Commission
  • Accommodation/housing
  • Economic/community Development/employment
  • Education/training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

Who they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Children/young People
  • Elderly/old People
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
  • Other Defined Groups
  • People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
  • People With Disabilities
  • The General Public/mankind

How they help

Source:Charity Commission
  • Provides Advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides Services

Discoveries involving this organisation

The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.

Observations

Sources:Civic AtlasAI-assisted

  • A pathway rather than a single intervention

    WAITS appears to connect crisis response with longer-term recovery and participation. Refuge accommodation and domestic-abuse support sit alongside counselling, workshops, befriending and community organising, suggesting an operating model intended to reduce dependence as well as address immediate harm.

    Why it matters

    This helps distinguish WAITS from a narrowly crisis-focused service. Its potential value may lie in preventing women from falling back into exclusion after an initial intervention.

    Show evidence

    • “WAITS offers domestic abuse help, refuge accommodation, community integration and community organising.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “Its core services aim to support women to achieve their goals, feel empowered and gain independence.”

      Source:Organisation

  • Specialism at intersecting forms of exclusion

    WAITS appears to concentrate on women whose needs may be poorly served by generic provision, particularly Global Majority women and women with offending histories or risk of offending. This may require navigating overlapping risks involving abuse, housing, stigma, racial inequality and public services.

    Why it matters

    The specialism suggests WAITS may hold experience and relationships valuable to domestic-abuse, criminal-justice, housing and equality organisations seeking more inclusive support pathways.

    Show evidence

    • “WAITS has an added specialism in supporting women from Black, Chinese, South Asian and minority backgrounds.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “Community Integration supports women who have a history or risk of offending and complex needs.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “The charity promotes social inclusion and assists socially excluded people to integrate into society.”

      Source:Charity Commission

  • Change-making is part of the service model

    WAITS appears to treat women not only as service users but as potential contributors to institutional change. Its emphasis on leadership, policy engagement, community organising and research suggests it may convert lived experience into collective voice.

    Why it matters

    This indicates a possible role beyond direct delivery: WAITS may be a connector between women’s lived experience and the agencies or policies affecting them.

    Show evidence

    • “WAITS builds women’s leadership skills to engage more effectively with networks, policy makers and service providers.”

      Source:Organisation

    • “Community Organising supports women to build their understanding of systems and policies that affect their lives.”

      Source:Organisation

    Remaining uncertainties

  • How referrals, partnerships and responsibilities are divided between WAITS and other local services is unclear.
  • There is no evidence about outcomes, demand, waiting times, geographic reach or the experiences of women using each service.
  • The relationship between its broad charitable beneficiary groups and its women-focused delivery model is not explained.

    Additional evidence needed

  • Annual reports or impact data showing outcomes, repeat engagement and unmet demand across each service.
  • Information on referral sources, partner organisations and local areas served.
  • Evidence of how women’s research, organising or leadership activity has shaped decisions or services.
Charity Commission profile
Source:Charity Commission

Activities

Women Acting In Todays Society (WAITS) supporting women affected by domestic abuse, with specialism in supporting Global Majority women and offenders. Providing advocacy, refuge, counselling, development workshops that aim to increase skills and confidence. Empowering women, building the leadership skills of women to engage more effectively with networks, policy makers and service providers.

Charity objects

(1) THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF WOMEN TO FULFIL THEIR ROLES IN SOCIETY. (2) TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSION FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING SOCIALLY EXCLUDED, RELIEVING THE NEEDS OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SOCIALLY EXCLUDED AND ASSISTING THEM TO INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.