Domestic abuse is not a new social problem: what is new is the growing public and political concern it attracts. This research report focuses on one particular intervention intended to assist abused women and their children – refuge accommodation provided by the Women’s Aid (WA) network in Scotland. The research aims were to:

•  investigate women, children and young people’s experiences, preferences and priorities in relation to refuge provision;
•  assess the level and standard of refuge accommodation currently provided by WA groups in Scotland; and
•  produce an ‘audit tool’ to be used in future years to assess the level and standard of refuge accommodation in Scotland.

The methods used in the study comprised a literature review; focus groups with women, children and WA workers; and a postal survey of all WA groups in Scotland (a 96% response rate was achieved).