Refuge is safe, emergency accommodation
for you and your children when you are fleeing domestic abuse.
We offer self-contained flats or houses with a communal garden
and 1:1 support to all our service users, all our staff are
experienced and qualified and passionate about supporting families to
live independently. We accept telephone referrals and you can
self refer or be referred by an agency by ringing our
helpline 01254 260465 . We have an assessment process in place
to make sure that refuge is the best option to meet your needs. Safety
is very important so the accommodation units have 24 hour CCTV
in operation and we provide support 7 days a week.
Support
we offer includes:
An environment which promotes the safety of
women and children
Individual support plans, targeted
support to meet additional needs
Weekly house meetings /
breakfast groups / children’s house meetings
Cultural support
Counselling
Support
to access housing & benefits
Support through the
criminal/ civil justice system
Advocacy and liaison with
other agencies
A variety of educational and
therapeutic programmes
Emotional and practical
support
Resettlement support on exit
Support
with children and parenting issues
Outdoor play area
Children's
Support Services
We are proud to hold an Investors In Children
Award and our specialist children’s support workers create a
positive environment, where children and young people feel safe and
free from abuse. We offer one-to-one and group sessions, we know that
children are impacted by domestic abuse and also by leaving home to
come to refuge. The programmes we offer help children develop
safe coping strategies reconcile their abusive experiences and enjoy
play sessions and have fun as children deserve. We support children
to overcome their experience of abuse, and ensure any disruption to
their education is minimal during their stay.
Activities
are planned throughout the holiday periods and our outdoor play area
includes a greenhouse and raised beds.
Ethnic Minority Support
Our specialist bi-lingual support workers
deliver support which is appropriate to meet the cultural and
faith needs of victims from ethnic minority communities to help them
overcome additional barriers. These barriers mean BME victims often
require extra support to achieve social and economic independence. We
also provide support to victims who are fleeing forced marriage,
honour based violence, female genital mutilation.