Residents are given emotional and practical support from our refuge staff, and the time and space they need, to help them overcome the impacts of violence and abuse and to make their own informed decisions about their futures.
IKWRO’s refuge staff have specialist understanding of the dynamics of “honour” based abuse and understand what the women have been through and the risks they may face. They will not judge or tell a woman what to do and will never mediate.
Practical support includes safety planning and the development of a support plan, focusing on the individuals’ needs and goals. Refuge staff provide advocacy to help residents secure access to; welfare benefits, health services and legal advice and they accompany women to appointments and to court. Residents are supported with exploring employment, education and voluntary work opportunities.
Women at the refuge are given the space and facilities to live independently and also have access to communal space, including a garden. They are offered social activities and workshops, which encourage; empowerment, building self-esteem and confidence.
Residents can receive additional specialist support, including counselling and training, from IKWRO’s expert teams, who speak seven languages.
When women are ready to move on from the refuge, they are given advice on their options and are supported with securing suitable housing.
To enquire about availability at IKWRO’s refuge contact us on refuge@ikwro.org.uk
If a place at IKWRO’s refuge is not available, you can call the Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which acts as the gateway to services across the country and helps women find a space in a refuge