Catherine Harper from The Cithrah Foundation was awarded an MBE for her services to domestic abuse support in Northern Ireland . The Carrick woman said she was “dumbfounded” when she first learned she would receive the prestigious accolade. “It’s very humbling, but it’s great to have the recognition, because it gives me the opportunity to talk about Cithrah,” she added.
Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. As well as providing advice, support and signposting to individuals and families in crisis, The Cithrah Foundation also operates a refuge, providing a safe shelter for women and their families who have become homeless due to abusive situations. Recalling the process of founding the organisation, Catherine said: “It’s been a long road when it came to getting funding, all the paperwork, and eventually setting up the refuge, but the Housing Executive and local representatives were so helpful, and we got there in the end.
“We can help people to recognise the signs that they are in an abusive relationship, and support them in whatever way they need so that they can leave – whether that’s advice about housing, benefits or any other issue. It’s a process, and not an event – for some victims it can take years to leave. “[Cithrah] has saved lives, and changed lives; from being a survivor, we try to help them become a ‘thriver’ as.
