DAWN was founded in 1993, as a voluntary organisation by a group of women from varying professional backgrounds. It was converted to a charitable trust and registered with the UK Charities Commissioner in May 2000.

Funded through both private and public donation and grants, DAWN’s mission is two fold:

1. To provide emotional and mental health support – through provision of one-to-one counselling support delivered in a gender-specific women only space, as well as, a gender-neutral space to support everyone whether men, women, couples or families.
2. To provide social inclusion and wellbeing support for women – through provision of access to information, advocacy and advisory support and, creation of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities to alleviate social isolation and foster a sense of belonging to improve the quality of their lives.