Charity working with States to create new women’s refuge

And it will be paid for by money secured from seized proceeds of crime.

The current refuge has been open since 1998 for those experiencing domestic abuse and is considered to be no longer fit for purpose.

‘It’s less about the actual condition of the refuge and more about the size of it, said Naomi Wood, head of service at Safer.

‘It’s served the community well since 1998, but things can change, and how we best support our community changes as a result. It’s not accessible and there are steps everywhere, which is an immediate barrier to who can and can’t access the refuge.’

It has six rooms with a shared shower between them, small community areas, and a dining table that can fit just two. Safer is working with Home Affairs to develop this project to the community's needs, funded from the seized assets fund.

It follows the committee’s work surrounding domestic abuse, sexual violence and the safety of women and girls, including the opening of Willow House, the sexual assault referral centre.

‘When we started looking at this at the beginning of this term, we realised that the refuge provision needed reviewing and upgrading and have been working with Safer,’ said committee president Rob Prow.

‘We have the essential funding that we need, but we’re now in the process of scoping the project and developing the business case so we can actually get a spade in the ground to do this.’

Despite an election on the horizon, Deputy Prow was confident that this project will come to fruition.

‘We’ve done the strategic work, we’ve done the legislative work, and we’re working with Safer. That will all continue beyond this term of government,’ he said.

‘The main achievement is securing the funding from the seized assets fund, and we will now continue work on this project with Safer and give it the momentum to carry it through to the next term. We’ll have left this in a much better position than when we started.’

States sexual violence and domestic abuse lead politician Deputy Sue Aldwell said the project had been a labour of love.

She said that after the need for a new refuge was identified in 2022, many properties were looked at, yet nothing would fit the needs.

‘It has taken this long to actually find a solution. The Property Services Unit has found a site which can be used, so now we’re at a stage where we can move on,’ she said.

‘There is a whole load of work which needs to be done to make sure that it fits everyone’s needs and plans need to be drawn up. Everyone has bought into it to make sure that it fits what is needed for the community.’

HOUSING CRISIS

The housing crisis is having a knock-on impact on the charity Safer and the Women’s Refuge.

The charity's head of service Naomi Wood said that there had been another slight increase in the number of people using the service.

‘We’ve had times where there’s been no room left and that’s difficult because we have to try and find other safe accommodation which can be really challenging,’ she said.

‘Some of the difficulties we also have now are with the housing crisis. Trying to find suitable accommodation to move into, private or social housing, is really challenging, and the wait can be so long that people tend to stay with us for longer.

'It’s important that the refuge feels safe, peaceful and like a home.’