Our Vision and Values

Our Vision

At Shetland Women’s Aid, we believe everyone has the right to live free from fear, violence, and control.

We are working towards a Shetland where women, children, and young people feel safe, valued, and are able to live with dignity and equality. We believe ending domestic abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence, means not only supporting those affected directly, but working together with everyone in our community to create lasting change across our isles.

As a specialist domestic abuse organisation, we are committed to challenging the harmful attitudes, inequalities, and systems that allow abuse to continue, while working alongside survivors, partner agencies, and our wider community to help build a safer and more equal future for everyone in Shetland.

Our Values

Women, Children, and Young People at the Heart

The women, children, and young people we support are always at the heart of every decision we make. We recognise that those subjected to abuse and other forms of GBV are experts in their own experiences, and we are committed to working collaboratively in a way that promotes dignity and choice. Our clients are unique individuals and ultimately know what they need; we are simply here to stand alongside them and support them as they recover from abuse.

Proudly Feminist

We are a proudly feminist organisation. We recognise that domestic abuse is a form of gender-based violence, and is both a cause and consequence of women’s inequality. We believe everyone has a role to play in challenging the harmful attitudes, rigid gender roles, and stereotypes that lead to behaviours which contribute to violence against women and girls in Shetland.

Intersectional and Inclusive

We understand that every individual experiences the world differently and this will depend on factors such as race, disability, sexuality, class, religion, age, and immigration status. We are committed to recognising and responding to the additional barriers people may face in their lives, and how these barriers can contribute to the abuse they are being subjected to and their ability to keep themselves safe.

At Shetland Women’s Aid, we strive to ensure our work remains inclusive, accessible, and free from discrimination at every point.

Specialist and Trauma-Informed

As the lead organisation in Shetland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse, we believe it is essential that all work across our islands is informed by evidence and specialist knowledge to ensure best practice. We work in a trauma-informed and person-centred way, recognising the impact abuse and other forms of gender-based violence can have on individuals, families, and whole communities.

Collaboration and Community

We fundamentally believe that meaningful change happens by working together. Within our organisation, we recognise that every team member and every service is of equal importance, and we value the different skills, perspectives, and experiences each person brings to their role.

More broadly, we are proud to work alongside survivors, partner organisations, and our wider community to help create lasting change across Shetland. We simply cannot do this work alone.

Integrity, Care, and Courage

We strive to act with integrity and care in everything we do – even when conversations are difficult or change feels challenging. At Shetland Women’s Aid we want to be changemakers, and we understand the courage it takes to do things differently. We are committed to listening, learning, and continuing to grow as both an organisation and as individuals.