wave trauma centre
Belfast
WAVE was formed in 1991 from a small nucleus of eight women, all of whom had
lost their partner in the Troubles/Conflict in Northern Ireland. Initially the
acronym ‘WAVE’ stood for Widows Against Violence Empower, as the objective of
the organisation was to empower women whose husbands or partners were murdered.
The women chose a lighthouse as the corporate logo as they wanted WAVE to become
a beacon of light for many people coping with the aftermath of traumatic
bereavement and/or injury as a result of conflict. Today WAVE is the largest
cross community victims’ group in Northern Ireland, with five centres and 15
satellite projects, spread across the country. It is to the credit of all those
involved that it has grown so successfully from what amounted to very modest
beginnings. The organisation was formed relatively late in the Troubles in
response to specific need. Whilst initially concerned with the bereaved, in 1995
the remit was expanded to include those who were injured and/or traumatised in
the Troubles/Conflict in Northern Ireland.
