St James’s Place Foundation have helped Stop Domestic Abuse’s Safe in Southampton Refuge Appeal by providing a grant to help furnish two refuges in Southampton.

The two refuges provide safe and welcoming accommodation to up to 12 families. The charity’s staff provide tailored support to women recovering from trauma caused by domestic abuse, helping them to address legal and financial issues, improve their confidence and self-esteem and plan for their future. Specialist children’s workers support children to talk about what they have experienced, take part in group activities, play and have fun.

Chief Executive of Stop Domestic Abuse, Claire Lambon said:

“We are delighted that St James’s Place Foundation has awarded us this grant which will help us create a safe and welcoming place for women and children to stay. Our refuges offer more than just somewhere to stay. We provide a homely, supportive and nurturing environment where victims can recover from the trauma of domestic abuse and begin to rebuild their lives. The pandemic placed strain on safe accommodation for women and children. It’s now more important than ever to make sure there are specialist refuges for families who have made the incredibly hard decision to leave their home to find safety”

When women and children arrive at refuge, they have gone through the upheaval of moving, at a time of danger and extreme stress and anxiety. They often leave home at short notice, leaving behind friends, family and many if not all their possessions. Clean, fresh and well equipped refuge spaces allow women who need emergency accommodation to feel safe and comfortable. Stop Domestic Abuse’s refuges offer more than just somewhere to stay. The charity provides a homely, supportive and nurturing environment where victims can recover from trauma and begin to rebuild their lives. With multiple families and children sharing the house there is high level of wear and tear, so hardwearing furniture will be purchased. Our Southampton refuges need to be places where women and children can feel comfortable, safe and valued.

St James's Place Foundation’s grant will help us provide furniture, white goods and bathroom items for women and children who have made the incredibly hard decision to leave their home to find safety. Our welcome packs will include toothpaste/brush, sanitary products, shampoo and shower gel to help women and children settle in after a long journey.

Stop Domestic Abuse is busy fundraising to upgrade the furnishings at the properties. The charity's ‘Safe in Southampton’ Appeal is calling for donations of cash, new furniture, white goods, toys, garden storage and furnishings for the refuges.

Talking to the importance of safe refuge accommodation, domestic abuse survivor and refuge resident Ruth* said: “I really feel that living in refuge has helped me and my children in so many ways, we arrived scared and having no idea what this experience was going to be like and what our lives were going to be like from now on. It has built our confidence up and I have regained control of our lives. The staff have been nothing short of amazing, the support sessions for all of us have been so helpful and supportive. We were really scared and skeptical of coming here but it really has rebuilt our lives, we are free now.”

*Name has been changed