Kirsty McAllister

Trafford Domestic Abuse Services (TDAS) was established in 1990 as a small refuge for four families. I joined TDAS in 2011 and it has been amazing to see the organisation grow and develop to meet the needs of the Trafford Community. At TDAS our mission is to enable people to break free from domestic abuse. We achieve this by offering trauma informed services to adults, children and young people. We provide Accommodation, Outreach, IDVAs, Children & Young Peoples Service, Peer Support and Educational Programmes for adults and children and Training for Professionals to equip as many people as possible with the right tools to support survivors.

My TDAS journey began in Phoenix House, our oldest refuge where I was a children and young people’s support worker, supporting children who had fled their homes because of domestic abuse.  

After seeing so many women fleeing to our refuge, who had themselves been in refuges as young children with their mothers, I understood TDAS’s mission and the need to break the cycle of domestic abuse. It’s then that I devised the Speak out Speak Now© programme; for young people aged 14+ that educates and promotes healthy relationships. 

In 2017 I was lucky enough to be promoted to Services Manager. I am responsible for the operational delivery of TDAS’ amazing services. It’s a role I love as I still get to interact with service users, lead a fantastic team and develop current and new services to meet the needs of the people we support.