Exeter Women's Aid

Refuge

"I was made to feel very welcome and the home was beautiful. It was a pleasure to stay there..."

The refuge

The refuge is a confidential address where women, children and young people can go to escape domestic violence and abuse. It provides a safe and comfortable environment for women, children and young people, giving them time and space to get their lives back on track.

We have excellent accommodation. In our refuge each family has their own furnished bedroom and shared use of a bathroom/shower room and there is a suite adapted for those with mobility difficulties. There is also a lounge, dining room, laundry room, two kitchens and gardens, which are shared by all the residents.

Workers are available to provide both practical and emotional support for women and we also have excellent facilities for children and young people.

Settling in

The refuge may feel strange or confusing at first but the staff and other women in the refuge will help new women, children and young people settle in. It is very important to us that everyone feels safe and comfortable in the refuge.

As part of the settling in at the refuge, a worker will:

• Show women children and young people around the refuge, including their own room and the areas shared with other residents.
• Introduce women, children and young people to other people who are staying in and working at the refuge.
• Ensure essential items such as food and toiletries are available.
• Help complete any paperwork we need including the licence agreement, contract and risk assessment if there are any safety issues to address.
• Explain the house rules.

Supporting women

The workers team will not tell women what decisions to make or what to do with their life. Instead, our workers will support women and work with them to help them feel in control of their own life and their decisions.

What we can support women with

• Sorting out housing after the refuge - whether this means returning home or finding a new home.
• Sorting out benefits - making sure all the benefits entitled to are being claimed and make the most of money.
• Legal protection - ensuring safety and going to the courts to get further legal protection if needed.
• Emotional support concerning the impact of the abuse women have experienced.
• Undertake risk assessments and devise safety plans.
• Help with referrals to other agencies when necessary.

The support workers

Each woman has an allocated support worker who will:

• Spend time privately with women to discuss a range of issues to find out support and information needs.
• This will be recorded on an Individual Support Plan (we call this an ISP for short). The support worker and the women can together use the ISP to make sure that the right support is obtained for each woman.

"The house felt safe and comfortable and the staff were very supportive and friendly. I had the time to learn about myself again..."