Women and children who are experiencing domestic abuse live in fear and use all their inner resources to get through each day. Once women make the decision to leave abusers, short term accommodation is available in one of our two refuge houses. We offer a 7 days a week helpline and support and assistance to rebuild lives free from abuse. Donations help secure housing, furniture, essentials and offer outreach services, which are so vital to the emotional and mental recovery of women and children.
As many as 1 in 3 women in Surrey experience domestic abuse in their lifetimes. These women are likely to have suffered 35 incidents of domestic abuse before they ever make a report. When these women finally make the decision to flee their abusive partners with their children, they often arrive at our refuge with nothing but the clothes they are standing in. To prevent abusive partners from finding out, women often tell no-one they are going and so leave behind friends, family and support too.
Your Sanctuary provides ongoing emotional support, short-term necessities and long-term care that is so vital to the recovery of women and children, especially when they leave refuge and rebuild their lives in new homes and towns away from abuse. Our services include one-to-one support, counselling, legal support and advocacy with other agencies and the court system. Our group work enables women to understand more about the abuse they have experienced and grow in confidence and self-esteem.
Of women who complete a six month stay in our refuge houses and engage in support services, 96% felt more empowered and confident by the end of their stay. Your Sanctuary also works within our community towards the prevention of domestic abuse, to ensure that other professionals, agencies and organisations are able to give an appropriate response to victims. We also aim to influence legislation, strategies and culture to bring about a more equal society free from the devastation of abuse.
