A WOMAN who turned to a Worcester group for support after experiencing domestic abuse has praised the group for helping her "get her confidence back".

Gill West, who lives in the Warndon area of Worcester, was referred to the DAWN Project two years ago after suffering domestic abuse.

DAWN (Domestic Abuse Working Network), works mainly in the WR4 area post code and provides a range of services to women who have been the victims of domestic abuse.

This help is given in many different ways, whether through face-to-face support sessions, group-work programmes aimed at confidence building and providing direction to appropriate services.

Miss West, aged 21, said: "A friend referred me to the DAWN project two years ago. They have done a lot for me. They have made me aware of how not to get back in to a situation like the one I was in before. I now know what to look out for and how to be more aware.

"It is helpful having someone that I know I can talk to if I need to."

Another service provided by the group, which Miss West says helped her a lot, is DAWN's Little Sister.

DAWN's Little Sister is a self-help group which gets survivors together to create jewellery, which is then sold to raise funds to put back in to the group.

The group, which was set up in March 2013, met in Warndon Community Centre on Shap Drive on Wednesday to create jewellery and mark the White Ribbon campaign during the 16 Days of Action, which raises awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

"I always come along to every session with DAWN's Little Sister," Miss West added.

"It's really fun and I enjoy making the jewellery, I've always been quite in to crafts. I didn't have any confidence before I started coming here but this group has helped me so much, just in building up my self-esteem by talking and meeting other people.

"If I could say anything to other people who are in a relationship which involves domestic abuse, it would be to get out now. At the first sign of domestic abuse, you should just get out. DAWN are always here to help you."

Emma MacDonald, a domestic abuse support worker with DAWN, said the White Ribbon Campaign, which urges men to pledge to never condone domestic abuse, is "very important".

"It's a great campaign and a good way of raising awareness of domestic abuse and getting people to speak openly about something that usually isn't spoken about. It's important to raise the issue and to recognise that violence against women is a human rights issue," she said.

"The jewellery workshop is run by survivors of domestic abuse and it's such a good way of getting women back involved with the outside world. A lot of women lose their identity and their confidence when in an abusive relationship and it's so important to get back in to the community and build that confidence back up and move on with your life."

Another jewellery workshop will be held at the community centre on December 10, the last day of the 16 Days of Action.

To contact DAWN, call 07713 200699 or email dawn@worcestercommunitytrust.org.uk.

To make your pledge of support to the White Ribbon Campaign visit www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk/worcestershire.