About Us
Vesta - Specialist Family Support CIC was formerly known as the Polish Domestic Violence Helpline (PDVH). PDVH supported Polish victims of domestic violence since 2014. We set up the first UK-wide helpline specifically for Polish people who experienced domestic abuse. It was founded by Ewa Wilcock, who developed it initially as a project within a local charity, Cheshire Without Abuse. National interest in the helpline grew quickly, and in 2015 we registered as a charitable incorporated organisation and developed our services independently. Apart from the helpline, we offered telephone counselling and a domestic abuse recovery programme for Polish women, Gateway. In 2017, we were one of the shortlisted finalists for the prestigious Diversity Award in the gender category, which was a great recognition of our work for Polish victims of domestic violence.
There was a growing demand for our services, and we decided to change how we operate to continue providing invaluable support to Polish families. In September 2018, we registered Vesta - Specialist Family Support CIC, our new name and organisation. We extended our support offer to respond to the growing needs of our clients. We support families affected by domestic abuse through specialist courses for victims and perpetrators. We also focus on improving parenting skills and the general well-being of Polish families; we offer parenting courses and counselling.
We also offer courses to professionals that help explore the issues affecting the lives of Polish people living in the UK so they can recognise them and respond to them confidently when working with them or supporting them in their professional roles.
We offer competitive prices for our services and look at alternative ways of funding our projects.
We offer our services remotely across England and Wales.
Meet Our Directors
Ewa Wilcock
Managing Director
Ewa believes that Polish families should have equal access to specialist services.
She led the delivery of various projects specifically for Polish victims of domestic violence. She was the founder of the first UK-wide Polish domestic violence helpline and a Polish website with information about support available in the UK. She holds a qualification of an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate and worked as a specialist domestic violence worker for Cheshire Without Abuse. She adapted a domestic abuse awareness and recovery programme (Gateway) and a parenting course (The Nurturing Programme) to Polish and successfully delivered it to groups and individuals. Ewa is a sociologist by profession (MA) and a qualified interpreter (DPSI).
Ewa worked tirelessly to support victims, promote their rights and to raise awareness about domestic violence in Polish families living in the UK.
Iwona Nowakowska
Senior Family Support Specialist
Iwona ensures that our parenting and wellbeing services help our clients recover and grow.
Iwona is passionate about working with families with complex needs and recognising and addressing the Adverse Childhood Experiences. She is a facilitator of the Freedom Programme for victims of domestic abuse as well as accredited parenting programmes: Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities and The Nurturing Programme.
Iwona has over ten years of experience working directly with parents and children known to social services or Early Help teams in her local authority area.
Iwona is a psychotherapist in process of gaining qualifications, holds a Master's degree in Social Pedagogy, former director of Poles In Need - organisation supporting the Polish community in London.
Agnieszka Litke
Finance Manager
Agnieszka is our "financial brain", she keeps our finances in check and makes sure we comply with accounting standards.
Agnieszka is a qualified accountant. She runs a successful accountancy practice which provides a whole range of financial services to individuals and companies in three regional branches.
She is also a treasurer in a number of charitable organisations and actively supports their community initiatives.
We are looking for new directors!
Click here to find out more
Our vision
“Polish families, where everyone can have a healthy relationship with each other, feel safe and thrive in a nurturing environment.”
Our values
Client focus
Compassion
Change
Representation
Integrity
Highlights from our work
as Polish Domestic Violence Helpline
