Women's refuge announces funding for new homes

Broadacres’ women refuge has provided a safe and secure haven for almost 400 women over the last ten years.

And of the 394 women who have been helped in the past decade, 359, have since been able to move on to create new lives for themselves, and often their children, away from violence, abuse, intimidation and control.

Broadacres also recently received funding to buy and refurbish five homes for victims of domestic abuse who are ready to return to life in the local community

Steve O’Brien, the refuge manager, says there is a growing issue over domestic abuse in rural areas.

He said: “Everybody can be helped if they get the right help. In rural areas, there can be a stigma attached to it, there are reasons why people don’t access it but we would urge them to do that if they are afraid and in fear of domestic violence and coercive control.

“The perpetrator can control the car, the money, it can be difficult, there can be all sorts of things that stop people leaving, but we can help. There is an idea that it doesn’t really happen in country areas, but we know differently.”

Broadacres, which has also expressed an interest in providing a new refuge in Scarborough, works in partnership with Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS), North Yorkshire County Council, and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Sarah Hill, Chief Executive of the IDAS, said: “Many people find it extremely difficult to leave an abusive relationship because of a lack of suitable accommodation. Therefore, it is really welcome news that Broadacres has been awarded this funding to improve accommodation for people escaping domestic abuse. “

Michaela Thomas, Team Leader at the Refuge said: “The refuge is vital as it can be the last chance saloon for some. People can also be in danger of losing their children if they do not get out of dangerous and violent relationships.”

“This refuge is really for the short term, with people staying on average between six to 12 months before being encouraged to move onto independent living.

“We are supporting this transition further by building five new homes for women leaving the refuge whilst continuing to provide ongoing support.”

Broadacres also continues to be touched by the support for the refuge from the North Yorkshire community. After being shocked by statistics that revealed one in ten girls between the ages of 14 and 21 in the UK have been unable to afford sanitary products, the Yorkshire Building Society in Northallerton decided to ask customers if they could donate products as part of collections held in the branch each month, and these were recently presented to the refuge.

Branch Manager Lisa Forster said: “When customers saw what we were doing, in most cases they would leave the branch and come back in minutes later having just bought sanitary products.

“It was by far the best collection we have done to date and we’re delighted to have been able to donate the items to the refuge.”