Derry support centre for domestic violence victims 'first of its kind in Ireland' moves forward

Plans to open a new £4m centre in Derry which will provide support victims of domestic and sexual abuse took a major step forward this week. A planning application has now been lodged with the local planning authority, Derry City and Strabane District Council, seeking approval to begin construction the Old Convent Building in Pump Street into a ‘drop-in’ Family Justice Centre. The applicant, Foyle Women’s Aid, has already secured £4m in funding for its ‘One Safe Place’ project, which will be the first of its kind in Ireland. The project will see the former Convent, a listed building located at numbers 10-16 Pump Street, refurbished and restored into a drop-in Justice Advice Centre, which will require a partial demolition to the rear of the building. In addition, there will be a new build addition to the site which will house 14 supported apartments, and a conference and exhibition space. The plans will also see the restoration of a former laundry into a café at the building. Speaking about the plans previously, Marie Brown, director of Foyle Women’s Aid, outlined how the new centre will help those impacted by domestic and sexual abuse. “This is a very exciting and innovative project which will change the way victims of domestic and sexual abuse are supported,” she said. “This will be the first of its kind in Ireland and will lead the way in future working with victims of abuse.” Over different 20 agencies will be located at the One Safe Place project, which Mrs Brown said would use models of practise previously rolled out in other areas outside of Ireland. “One Safe Place brings together a broad range of specialist services, removing barriers and gaps in service provision and is based on best practise and had has been tried and tested in the US and Europe,” Mrs Brown continued. The project will also secure the future of the historic convent building in Pump Street which at one point was at risk of dereliction.