What does our House have to offer?

The refuge offers a safe place to stay while you gather your thoughts, begin to think about what you want to do next and perhaps even start the process of making a new life for yourself and, if you have children, for them too.

We know you have been through a great deal, and that it is extremely difficult to leave your partner and the home you have built up. You may still have feelings for your partner and wish only that the abuse would stop or you may have come to the point where you know the abuse will not stop whatever is promised. In refuge you will be with people who understand these feelings.

Refuge is about safety, support, the opportunity to talk with other women who have had similar experiences to yourself and knowing you are not alone. Through sharing your feelings and listening to others you can make friends and start to regain your self confidence. In the refuge you will not be judged or blamed for the abuse. Being in refuge also means choosing for yourself what you are going to do and when you are going to do it!

Equally, children and young people will not be judged for expressing their feelings either. We have learned from the many thousands of women who have been part of Women's Aid over the years that every day there are literally thousands of acts of violence directed against women and children. This can make us feel many things but commonly we all feel powerless and afraid. There are many excuses given for abuse but excuses are not reasons. We believe that violence is an abuse of power and is used to exert control over us. There is no excuse and no-one has the right to abuse us in any way, either sexually, emotionally, mentally or physically. You and your children have the right to be proud of the courage and strength which has enabled you to survive.


We have also learned from children and young people that they too are affected by living with domestic abuse: some have seen or heard the abuse, and many have been abused themselves. No two children will react to leaving home and being in refuge in the same way - even within the same family. They may feel relieved to be safe but they may have left behind people and things that are important to them and feel anxious, confused, sad, angry or guilty. They also need support with their feelings and to talk about their experience of living with abuse.  
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