Refuge announces appointment of new Director of Service Delivery
Refuge, the country’s largest single provider of specialist domestic abuse services has appointed Abigail Ampofo as its new Director of Service Delivery. Ampofo will take up this post in October this year.
Formerly Regional Director of Operations at Hestia, under Abigail’s leadership Hestia has become one of the largest providers of domestic abuse refuges and of support to survivors of modern slavery in London, including the award-winning Phoenix Project. Abigail led Hestia’s development and expansion of domestic abuse services, including their first domestic abuse service outside of London, developed a centralised refuge referral line to streamline the process for women and their children accessing Hestia’s refuges and launched their first dedicated FGM support service. Currently Abigail is leading Hestia’s digital strategy development.
With over 15 years’ sector leadership experience and having worked with a range of client groups with multiple and complex needs, Abigail started her social care career in housing related support services for people living with HIV.
Abigail said: “Refuge is an incredible organisation powered by expertise, a dedicated workforce and an unwavering commitment to supporting women and children to live free from domestic abuse and harm. I am thrilled to be joining Refuge at a time of pivotal change both internally and externally and working with all Refuge people to shape the future of the organisation and increase our impact”.
Ruth Davison, Refuge CEO said: “I am excited to welcome Abigail to our Senior Leadership Team. Abigail’s wealth of experience and expertise will enable Refuge’s frontline services to go from strength to strength. The pandemic has drawn into sharp focus the sheer level of need for the specialist support Refuge provides, and I am thrilled to welcome Abigal to our team at a time when women and children need us more than ever’.
Abigail holds an MSc in Business Psychology and professional qualifications in programme management.
ENDS
Interviews available on request.
Please contact the Press Office on 0207 395 7731 or email press@refuge.org.uk. Photographs of Abigail Ampofo available for use.
About Refuge:
Refuge supports more than 7,000 women and children on any given day, and runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is the gateway to accessing specialist support across the country. More than one in four women in England and Wales experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner.
Please signpost to Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free, confidential specialist support. Or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to fill in a webform and request a safe time to be contacted or to access live chat (live chat available 3pm-10pm, Monday to Friday). For support with tech abuse visit refugetechsafety.org.