A SAFE PLACE TO STAY

Our Refuge Accommodation

At RCT Domestic Abuse Services we offer a variety of temporary accommodation to support women and children fleeing domestic abuse. We recognise that everyone has different needs and that support sometime needs to be provided differently to achieve the best possible out comes for the individual.

Support For Women in Refuge

A refuge provides a safe, secure and confidential environment for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Although every woman in refuge have had very different experiences what unites everyone is a shared need to have somewhere safe to stay whilst fleeing domestic abuse.

Support to Improve Your Well-being

Domestic abuse can have a big impact on your mental health. Last year 65% of women who accessed refuge were experiencing mental ill health. There is support within refuge to assist you to improve your well-being.

Our refuge accommodation

At RCT Domestic Abuse Services we offer a variety of temporary accommodation to support women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Our accommodation includes shared accommodation and self contained units within a shared house.  Allocation to our refuges are based on needs and availability and therefore you will be placed by the team into the most appropriate for you. 

Self contained units

This type of accommodation is suitable for our large families and those with additional support needs.

Each unit contains:

  • Bedroom area
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen area
  • Dining / living area

Our team are based at this refuge day, evening and throughout the night.

Shared accommodation

This type of accommodation is suitable for smaller families or women accessing refuge without children. Women tell us that this type of accommodation ‘feels more like home’ and is ‘less isolating’. Women and families are allocated a bedroom that belongs to them throughout their stay however other areas are shared with other residents. These include;

  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Dining /living areas
  • Children’s playrooms

Our team is based at this refuge Monday to Friday, between 9am-5pm. However, support is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week via our on-call system and the Live Fear Free helpline.

Shared accommodation – single women

We recognise that accessing refuge alone, without children, and being surrounded by families can be stressful. To help reduce this we have mirrored our shared accommodation refuge within our single women refuge. Women are allocated a bedroom that belongs to them throughout their stay however other areas are shared with other residents. These include;

  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Dining /living areas
  • Children’s playrooms

Daily support is provided by our team who are based off-site. Support is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week via our on-call system and through the Live Fear Free helpline. 

Support for women in refuge

What is refuge?

A refuge provides a safe, secure and confidential environment for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Although every woman in refuge have had very different experiences what unites everyone is a shared need to have somewhere safe to stay whilst fleeing domestic abuse. During your time in refuge you will be fully supported by experienced and trained ‘Family Support Officers’ who understand the issues and effects of domestic abuse. Our team provide emotional and practical support and will assist the you to find suitable and safe accommodation.

 

Who can go into refuge?

Women and children currently experiencing and who wish to escape domestic may request refuge accommodation. If you are experiencing domestic abuse and want to discuss refuge accommodation or you want some advice on your options contact us our team are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

Once you decide refuge is for you

Before you can access a refuge you will need to speak to a member of our Access Team who will speak to you in confidence . They will ask you a number of questions to identify if our refuge accommodation is suitable for your needs. Once it has been established that a refuge is right for you, we will arrange to place you and your children, if appropriate, into our refuge as quickly and as safely as possible.

What will you need to bring with you?

You will also be given advice on what to bring with you. These items will include

  • Identification
  • Medication
  • Clothing
  • Food
  • Money and bank account details.

If you are planning to leave home, you will need to make sure that you are as safe as possible and do not come to any harm whilst you are in the process of leaving. Quite often, some women will arrive with nothing or very few possessions. In these cases we can offer emergency supplies such as clothes, food, toiletries and nappies etc.

 

During your stay in refuge

On admission you will be met by a support worker who will allocate you a room and show you around the refuge. During your stay we will help you to apply for benefits and any other arrangements you will need to make, e.g. registering with a new doctor or a new school for your children.

The refuge team are experienced support workers who will help you to settle in and understand the trauma you have experienced. The team fully understand what has been going on in your life and will provide you with support to plan for your future. They will not judge you or tell you what to do – they want ‘you’ to decide on your future and will offer you the space, support and advice to make your own choices.

Support to improve your well-being

Domestic abuse can have an enormous affect on your mental health. Abuse can be a factor in the development of depression, anxiety, poor sleeping patterns, eating disorders and substance misuse.

How we can help

In recognition of the impact domestic abuse has on mental health, especially at times of crisis we have a dedicated well-being worker within refuge. In addition to your family support worker, the well-being officer will work with you to identify ways in which we can support your needs to improve your well-being.

 

How to get involved

When you first come into refuge you will meet with the well-being officer and a family support worker to discuss your needs. If you need extra support to improve your well-being a plan, which you are fully involved in will be put in place. Support will be provided on a one to one basis, however you can still be involved in group sessions if you want.

 

Group sessions

Group sessions such as relaxation and meditation take place within our refuges. These sessions are designed to reduce tension and aid relaxation. Skills used in these sessions such as  breathing exercises are also encouraged to be used outside of the session as a way of reducing anxiety.

I learnt that I can find new ways to stay calm and get rid of tension

I learned that I can quite easily control my
emotional state with meditation

I found it very beneficial as I felt that the session helped my stress levels hugely