Refuge Accommodation

What is refuge accommodation?

At SWA refuge is a safe building, with some communal living areas, for women and children who are escaping domestic abuse.

Our organisation manages two refuge buildings across Sheffield consisting of 36 self-contained flats that feature a private bathroom, kitchen/living area and bedrooms. They range in size from single use to 3 bed for families of all shapes and sizes.

At one of our sites we are even able to take in small pets, subject to risk assessment.

FAQs

When you arrive, we will give you time and space to settle in.
We understand that leaving home can be traumatic for you and your children, so will work at a pace that feels comfortable for you. You will be shown your flat and the other areas of the refuge, such as the kitchen and communal living areas. We will introduce you to other residents and the staff who are working that day. We ensure you know the health and safety procedures and how to contact the On Call worker (who is available for contact over night if any emergencies arise).
If you have had to leave suddenly and do not have basic things like food and toiletries, we will provide those for you.
Soon after arriving, you will be asked to sign a license agreement, which explains some steps we need to take to keep everyone safe; for example, we ask that you do not tell anyone where the refuge is, and you do not have visitors to the refuge.
When you first arrive in refuge you will be allocated a dedicated key worker who will support you through your experiences and begin to help you plan the next steps forward for you and your children. They can help you with a wide range of issues including:
- Accessing welfare benefits / independent finances.
- Registering with new GP and Dental surgeries.
- Support to get to know the local area.
- Accessing support physical and mental health needs.
- Being an advocate for you with other agencies such as the Police and Social Care.
- Supporting you to access housing.
- Preparing for move on.
- Accessing legal support.
- Support with immigration issues.
And any other issue you may have
Yes! Our Children and Young Persons Practitioners provide a wide variety of therapeutic play sessions for children of all ages and at different times of the day so that all children can enjoy these activities. Play sessions may be on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, depending on what is most appropriate for the children; giving you the opportunity to rest, seek support from your worker(s), go to meetings, etc.
We can help you:
- Establish new routines such as bedtime, meal times, and getting ready for school.
- Access support around children’s development and behaviour, referring children to further support services such as Door 43 and Haven.
- Find a new school for your child or children.
- Establish safe contact arrangements, support you in court proceedings, and advocate for you in children’s safeguarding meetings.
We work with schools and nurseries, health visitors, GPs, speech and language specialists, social workers and any other professionals to ensure the best outcomes for the children and young people whilst they are in the refuge, helping them to prepare for life after moving on to their new homes.
We want the children and young people in refuge to have fun and access to a wide range of opportunities and experiences.
Children and Young Persons Practitioners will arrange for exciting activities during play sessions and will also help plan days out, parties, cooking and baking activities and enrichment visits.
Previous activities have included circus skills workshops, animal handling sessions, and visits from entertainers.
You can.
As long as he is under 19 years of age and is dependent on you for example, still in education. However, we cannot take university students.
We understand that when leaving an abusive relationship there isn’t always time to grab anything other than the essentials and sometimes not even those.
When you arrive, your flat will be clean and ready for you to move into straight away. There will be toiletries in the bathroom (including any sanitary products you need) and a variety of basic food items, so you can have a decent meal.
We can also help you to access local Food Banks until we get your finances sorted.
We will work with you to agree and provide the support you need for the time you need it.
Some people stay in refuge for a few days, while others stay a few months or even a year. Our aim is always to help you have the confidence and the tools to live independently and this will be different for everyone.
Your dedicated support worker will discuss your needs with you through your stay with us.
Call Sheffield City Council Housing Pathway on 0114 273 6306.
If you require accommodation in an emergency, outside of working hours, please contact 0800 731 1689.