'Life-saving' women's refuge to open second site
BBCA specialist refuge supporting women with complex needs who are fleeing domestic abuse is to open a second site after achieving what staff say have been "life-changing" results.
Run by the charity Harbour, based in north-east England, the scheme works with women struggling with issues which can make it difficult for them to access more traditional help.
It has secured funding for a second complex needs refuge, due to open over the summer.
According to Danielle Chadwick, Harbour's Tees Valley service manager, residents said the service "has saved their lives", while former resident Rachel, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said without the refuge she would be "dead by now".
Rachel arrived at the refuge after years of domestic abuse, addiction to drugs including crack cocaine and heroine, and homelessness. She said until then, "nobody had helped" her.
She said: "I thought it was just accommodation until I met staff and knew that care pack that was around me."
But she found there was "just always somebody there" to talk to and she "felt supported for the first time ever".
Harbour, which has been supporting victims of domestic abuse across the North East for more than 50 years, opened its first specialist refuge almost two years ago.
Residents take part in activities including fitness sessions, sea dips, gardening and cooking, with staff helping them discover new interests and rebuild confidence.
Chadwick said: "We were seeing increasing numbers of women coming through who were fleeing domestic abuse but had multiple needs and complexities which were obstacles to them accessing the mainstream refuges."
She said the project focuses on every aspect of a woman's wellbeing, including physical and mental health, addictions, relationships and independent living skills.
"A big part of what we do is try to help them to understand who they are again," she said.
After leaving the refuge Rachel moved into her own home, rebuilt relationships with her family, including her children and grandchildren, found a new partner and is now looking to the future.
On her previous addictions, she said: "Been clean two years in September, of everything.
"What makes me happy now? My family, my kids, just being able to do normal things instead of walking about just looking for drugs. It's just better."
Chadwick said: "The feedback we've had from women who are currently in here and who have previously been here and moved on is that this has saved their lives and this model has proven to work.
"For me I think we could do with one in every town."