Cardiff & Vale Women’s Services Directory
The EmpowHER Women’s Services Directory brings together organisations, services, programmes and opportunities available to women across Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and wider Wales.
Whether you’re looking for emotional support, domestic abuse services, recovery support, training, volunteering, wellbeing activities or simply somewhere to connect, explore the services below.
Information has been provided directly by participating organisations.
Please contact individual services to confirm current availability, eligibility and waiting times.
Find the right support
Browse the full directory below, or if you already know the type of support you’re looking for, select a category to go straight to the relevant services.
What they offer
3SC delivers a range of services and programmes designed to help individuals develop new skills, increase opportunities and progress. Their support includes specialist neurodiversity-related provision.
Support Available
Neurodiversity support · Criminal justice support · Education & training · Employment & employability · Confidence & personal development
Programs & opportunities
Neurodiversity Support for people on probation
Who is it for?
People on probation who may benefit from neurodiversity support.
How to access
Professional referral - Speak to Probation Officer
3SC
📍 Wider South Wales · Free if eligible/funded
What they offer
Cardiff University’s Lifelong Learning provision offers flexible and accessible education for adult learners and communities. Opportunities include free community courses, Level 4/5 study and supportive pathways into degree-level education.
Support Available
Education & training · Employment & employability · Community learning · Confidence & personal development · Peer support · Refugee & asylum seeker support
Programs & opportunities
Community courses · Health & Social Care · Creative Writing · Child Psychology & Development · Psychology · Human Rights · Law · Criminology · Public Service Interpreting · Pathways to a Degree
Who is it for?
Adults aged 18+ who would like to learn new skills, build confidence, access higher education or explore routes towards university study.
Cardiff University
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Wider South Wales · Some courses free
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in / no referral required
What they offer
CAVDAS is a free, all-age substance use service providing information, harm reduction, structured support and specialist pathways across Cardiff and the Vale. Support is available for adults, children and young people, families and concerned others, with a person-centred and trauma-informed approach.
Support Available
Addiction & recovery support · Counselling & therapeutic support · Peer support · Parenting & family support · Volunteering opportunities · Harm reduction
(Female keyworker support can be provided on request)
Programs & opportunities
Group work · Counselling · One-to-one support · Harm reduction · Family & concerned-other support · Women-focused support · Harm-reduction guidance · Children & Young People support · Peer support · Volunteering opportunities
Who is it for?
Anyone aged 18+ with current or previous substance use.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in / no referral required · Referral through a specific service or pathway
CAVDAS
Cardiff & Vale Drug & Alcohol Service
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Free to access
What they offer
Cwmpas supports people to start and grow social enterprises through the Welsh Government's Social Business Wales programme. Support includes specialist business advice, networking and training, alongside work in community ownership and digital inclusion.
Support Available
Social enterprise support · Business development · Training · Networking · Digital inclusion · Community ownership
Programs & opportunities
Social Business Wales · SBW One to Many Programme · Business training and events · Support to start or grow a social enterprise
Who is it for?
Anyone running an existing social enterprise or thinking about starting one.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Contact the service first
Cwmpas
📍 Wales-wide · Free if eligible/funded
What they offer
Cyfle Cymru provides person-centred practical support to help People overcome barriers, build confidence and move towards positive and sustainable futures. Support can include one-to-one mentoring, employability, training and skills development, volunteering opportunities, help accessing other services, and peer mentoring from people with lived experience.
Support Available
Education & training • Employment & employability • Volunteering • Community activities • Health & wellbeing • Criminal justice & resettlement • Confidence & personal development • Peer support
Programs & opportunities
Peer Mentoring Qualification • Five Ways to Thrive • Lived Experience Progression Pathway • Online learning portal
Who is it for?
People aged 16+, who has experience of Mental health and/or Substance use issues, who may be experiencing barriers and would benefit from support to build confidence, skills and move towards positive change.
How to access
Self-referral • Professional referral • Drop-in • Referral through a specific service or pathway
Cyfle Cymru
📍 Cardiff/Wider Wales • Free to access
EYST Wales
📍 Wales-wide · Paid opportunities
What they offer
EYST Wales provides inclusive support for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children, young people, families and individuals, as well as refugees, asylum seekers and people seeking sanctuary. Support includes advice, wellbeing activities, community participation and help for people affected by racism, Islamophobia and discrimination.
Support Available
Advice & advocacy · Refugee & asylum seeker support · Housing & homelessness support · Benefits & financial support · Education & training · Volunteering · Community activities · Health & wellbeing · Parenting & family support · Criminal justice support · Domestic abuse & sexual violence support
Programs & opportunities
Women’s coffee morning · Girls’ and boys’ homework clubs · Housing and benefits advice
Who is it for?
Children and adults, including people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, refugees, asylum seekers and people seeking sanctuary.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in / no referral required
What they offer
Glamorgan Voluntary Services provides information and guidance on all aspects of volunteering. They promote hundreds of volunteering opportunities across the Vale of Glamorgan, with some opportunities also available in Cardiff, and can help people find roles that match their interests, needs and circumstances.
Support Available
Volunteering opportunities · Volunteering advice & guidance · Community opportunities · Additional support to access volunteering
Programs & opportunities
One-to-one volunteering guidance · Help finding suitable volunteering opportunities · Support contacting organisations · Accompanied introductions or first sessions where needed
Who is it for?
People of different ages who are interested in volunteering and would like support finding an opportunity that suits them.
Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS)
📍 Vale of Glamorgan • Free to access
How to access
Drop-in / no referral required
What they offer
Mindworks Lab supports individuals and families to build and reconnect, working with challenging behaviours through therapeutic interventions including counselling and behaviour support.
Support Available
Mental health & emotional wellbeing · Addiction & recovery support · Holistic wellbeing · Counselling & therapeutic support · Neurodiversity support · Confidence & personal development
Programs & opportunities
School Connection Programme · Wellbeing groups for women and children (in development) · One-to-one counselling · Individual behaviour plans
Who is it for?
Children, young people and adults, with support tailored to the needs of the individual.
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Wider South Wales · Some services free / some have a cost
Mindworks Lab
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral
What they offer
New Pathways provides specialist support for people affected by rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. Their services include crisis support, advocacy, wellbeing support and specialist counselling.
Support Available
Sexual violence support · Mental health & emotional wellbeing · Counselling & therapeutic support · Advocacy · Wellbeing support · Peer/lived experience support
Programs & opportunities
Specialist counselling · Wellbeing support · Lived Experience Group · Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) support · Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) support
Who is it for?
Survivors of sexual violence and abuse, including children, young people and adults aged 3+.
New Pathways
📍 Wales-wide · Free to access
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral
Our Voice Our Journey – Safe & Sound Wales
📍 Wales-wide · Free to access
What they offer
Safe & Sound Wales provides information and resources for parents around the prevention of gender-based violence, including guidance for parents who may be worried about their children and signposting to organisations that can provide further support.
Support Available
Parenting & family support · Gender-based violence prevention information · Information & signposting · Volunteering opportunities
Programs & opportunities
Online information and resources for parents and young people · Signposting to specialist support
Who is it for?
Parents and young people across Wales.
How to access
Online · No referral required
What they offer
Physical Empowerment CIC supports women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence through trauma-informed physical empowerment. Their approach uses self-defence alongside emotional and mental empowerment to support trauma recovery, confidence and wellbeing.
Support Available
Domestic abuse & sexual violence support · Mental health & emotional wellbeing · Holistic wellbeing · Physical wellbeing · Counselling & therapeutic support · Confidence & personal development · Peer support · Parenting & family support · Volunteering opportunities
Programs & opportunities
12-week Physical Empowerment courses · Self-defence · One-to-one support · Small group support
Who is it for?
Women who have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, and children who have witnessed or experienced abuse.
Physical Empowerment CIC
📍 Wider South Wales · Free to access
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in / no referral required
Race Equality First
What they offer
Race Equality First provides advice, advocacy and support to people experiencing discrimination, harassment, hate crime and disadvantage. Their work particularly supports Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and includes dedicated opportunities that help women build confidence, improve wellbeing, develop skills and participate in community and civic life.
Support Available
Discrimination & hate crime support · Advice & advocacy · Financial & digital inclusion · Health & wellbeing · Community groups · Peer support · Volunteering · Confidence & leadership development · Criminal justice support
Programs & opportunities
Discrimination Casework & Advocacy · Hate Crime Support · Financial & Digital Inclusion · Minority Ethnic Elders in Mind (MEE) · Women’s Swimming Group · Health & Wellbeing Activities · Arts, Crafts, Sewing & Crochet · Advocafés & Community Groups · Know Your Rights, Live By Your Rights · Representing Wales: Empowering Community Leaders · Volunteering opportunities
Who is it for?
Services primarily support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities across Wales, including women, young people, families and older people, as well as anyone experiencing discrimination or hate crime. Eligibility for some individual programmes varies.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in / no referral required · Referral through specific services or pathways
📍 Wales-wide · Free to access
What they offer
Recovery Cymru is a peer-led recovery community supporting people affected by alcohol and other drugs. They provide connection, support and a sense of belonging, helping people build skills, explore interests and make positive changes in their lives beyond substance use.
Support Available
Addiction & recovery support · Peer support · Volunteering opportunities · Community groups & social activities
Programs & opportunities
Regular programme of recovery groups and activities · Women’s support group for women in recovery
Who is it for?
Anyone aged 18+ who is in recovery and looking to maintain lasting change.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in / no referral required
Recovery Cymru
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Free to access
What they offer
The Inspire programme provides opportunities for people with lived experience to support their peers through education, training, employment and volunteering.
Support Available
Employment & employability · Education & training · Confidence & personal development · Peer support
Programs & opportunities
Employment coach & careers guidance · Learning to Advise course
Who is it for?
People aged 18+ living in South Wales who are looking for a route into employment.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral
St Giles Trust / Inspire
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Wider South Wales · Free to access
What they offer
Stroke Association provides lifelong support for people affected by stroke, helping survivors and their families adjust, recover and rebuild their lives.
Support Available
Health & wellbeing support · Peer support · Community groups · Emotional wellbeing · Social activities · Support for carers and families
Programs & opportunities
Stroke support groups · Choirs · Art therapy · Exercise activities · WhatsApp support group for younger women and mums who are stroke survivors
Who is it for?
Stroke survivors of all ages, as well as carers and family members affected by stroke.
How to access
Self-referral · Contact the service directly
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Wider South Wales · Wales-wide · Free to access
Stroke Association
TaxAid
📍 Wales-wide · UK-wide · Free to access
What they offer
TaxAid provides free, independent tax advice for people who are struggling to deal with a tax problem and cannot afford professional advice. Support can include understanding tax bills, Self Assessment, tax on earnings, income and pensions, and resolving problems with HMRC.
Support Available
Tax advice · Financial guidance · Tax debt support · Self Assessment support · Advocacy & practical support
Programs & opportunities
Free tax helpline · One-to-one tax support · Online tax information and guides
Who is it for?
People who cannot afford professional tax advice. In most cases, TaxAid can provide individual help where annual income is below £30,500, although they also consider debts, savings and personal circumstances.
How to access
Self-referral · Telephone helpline · Online enquiry
📍 Wales-wide · Free to access
Tenovus Cancer Care
What they offer
Tenovus Cancer Care supports people affected by cancer across Wales, providing information, advice and practical and emotional support. They also help people have their voices heard through self-advocacy resources and opportunities to influence cancer services, research and policy.
Support Available
All-Wales Cancer Community · Self-advocacy support & resources ·Cancer support · Emotional wellbeing · Counselling · Benefits advice · Health information & advice · Volunteering opportunities
Programs & opportunities
Nurse-led Support Line · Counselling · Benefits advice · Sing with Us choirs · Volunteering opportunities
Who is it for?
Anyone affected by cancer, including people living with cancer and their loved ones.
How to access
Self-referral · Contact the Support Line · Online support
What they offer
The Birth Partner Project supports women seeking sanctuary who may otherwise face pregnancy, birth and early motherhood alone, providing compassionate practical and emotional support during this important time. Their submission says their support is available across Cardiff and the Vale.
Support Available
Refugee & asylum seeker support · Parenting & family support · Mental health & emotional wellbeing · Peer support · Community groups & social activities · Volunteering opportunities
Programs & opportunities
Volunteer birth partners · Weekly peer-support community drop-in · Maternity & baby item donations · Advice, signposting & referrals
Who is it for?
Women seeking sanctuary who are pregnant and may otherwise face pregnancy and birth without a birth partner or support network.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Community drop-in
📍 Cardiff · Vale of Glamorgan · Free to access
The Birth Partner Project
The Wallich
📍 Wales-wide · Services vary by location
What they offer
The Wallich supports people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Their services include outreach, accommodation and practical support, alongside opportunities that help people build skills, confidence and connections.
Support Available
Housing & homelessness support · Outreach · Supported accommodation · Health & wellbeing · Employment & training · Volunteering · Creative & community activities
Programs & opportunities
Homelessness outreach · Accommodation & housing support · Employment & volunteering opportunities · Creative arts, heritage & cultural activities · Wellbeing support
Who is it for?
People experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness or needing support to maintain accommodation.
Please note: Most Wallich services are mixed-gender rather than women-only, and available services vary by location.
How to access
Access varies depending on the service and location. Some accommodation services require referral through the relevant Local Authority.
Vale Domestic Abuse Services (ValeDAS)
📍 Vale of Glamorgan · Free to access
What they offer
ValeDAS is a women-led, women-centred domestic abuse service supporting adults, children and families affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence across the Vale of Glamorgan.
Support Available
Domestic abuse & sexual violence support · Housing & homelessness support · Counselling & therapeutic support · Parenting & family support · Criminal justice & resettlement · Holistic wellbeing · Community groups · Volunteering opportunities
Programs & opportunities
IDVA support · Community domestic abuse support · Refuge accommodation & resettlement · Children & young people’s support · One-to-one emotional wellbeing · Safety planning & risk assessment · Group wellbeing · Coffee mornings & peer support · Healthy relationships support
Who is it for?
Adults, children, young people and families affected by domestic abuse who live, work or have a connection to the Vale of Glamorgan.
How to access
Self-referral · Professional referral · Drop-in · Referral through a specific service or pathway · Contact the service directly
Vale of Glamorgan Council – Palmerston Centre
📍 Vale of Glamorgan · Free if eligible
What they offer
The Palmerston Centre provides courses and support for adults who are not currently in work, education or training, helping people build confidence, develop skills and move towards positive next steps.
Support Available
Education & training · Employment & employability · Confidence & personal development · Counselling & emotional wellbeing · Domestic abuse support
Programs & opportunities
Adult learning courses · Confidence-building support · Employability support · Counselling · Journeys Beyond Abuse programme delivered with ValeDAS
Who is it for?
Adults aged 18+ in the Vale of Glamorgan who are not currently in work, education or training. Some support is also available to people working 16 hours or less per week.
How to access
Self-referral · Referral through a specific service or pathway
What they offer
Women Connect First is a Cardiff-based charity supporting Black, Asian and minority ethnic women, young girls and children. They provide a wide range of services designed to promote equality, wellbeing, confidence and economic independence.
Support Available
Education & training · Volunteering opportunities · Community groups & social activities · Health & wellbeing · Advice & advocacy · Family support
Programs & opportunities
Advice & advocacy · ESOL classes · Computer classes · Afterschool clubs · Climate change projects · Health & wellbeing projects
Who is it for?
Women, young girls and children from diverse communities.
How to access
Drop-in / no referral required · Contact the service first
Women Connect First
📍 Cardiff · Free to access
Women’s Academy Wales
📍 Cardiff · Some services free / some have a cost
What they offer
Women’s Academy Wales supports women’s personal and professional development, creating opportunities to build confidence, develop skills, make connections and progress in their careers.
Support Available
Confidence & personal development · Professional development · Mentoring · Networking · Community & peer connection · Events & workshops
Programs & opportunities
Personal & professional development workshops · Mentoring · Networking events · Women’s events · Awards & recognition · Community opportunities
Who is it for?
Women aged 18+, particularly working women who are looking to develop personally or professionally and connect with other women.
How to access
Contact the organisation directly