Accommodation

What is a refuge?

A refuge is safe temporary accommodation for anyone escaping domestic abuse. Safer Places has 8 refuges across Essex and Hertfordshire, including specialist therapeutic refuge spaces for women with multiple needs and women with no recourse to public funding. Safer Places have refuges suitable for all genders, although because our referrals are mostly for women and children, most of our refuge spaces are for women or women and children only.

Our accommodation includes a combination of self-contained flats; large and small communal buildings where residents have a private bedroom and share other rooms i.e. bathrooms, kitchens and lounges. In order to ensure the safety of those living in the refuge, the address of the refuge is kept confidential.

What support is available?

A refuge is much more than a 'bed for the night' or a safe space to stay. Our qualified team support each resident with their individual needs, empowering them to make choices about their future and ultimately to live a life free from abuse and fear. Our staff work alongside clients to help them recover from their experience of abuse, providing emotional and practical support.

Support often includes:

Individual Safety planning
Assessment and Support planning
Weekly support sessions with a key worker
Supported sign posting for support in accessing specialist agencies i.e. Mental health teams, Drugs/Alcohol
Free Counselling
In house legal surgeries
Information and support on applying for benefits, Debt counselling, housing
Family fun sessions, trips and activities
Domestic Abuse trauma informed awareness programmes
Specialist support for children

"My son and I have enjoyed our stay here. The staff have made us feel welcome and treated us with respect. We have also been on trips when kids have been on holiday planned by Safer Places. I have been on so many courses and been awarded certificates for them. I have also received counselling which has helped me a great deal. My support worker has gone out of her way to support me and my family. All the staff have been amazing. All the courses have helped boost my confidence and coming here has made me ready to go back out there to live a normal life again. Thanks to all the staff from Safer Places. Keep up the good work"

How do you access refuge?

Our Gateway team are available 24/7 to help you find a refuge place - please call them on 03301 025 811

What happens when you leave refuge?

After leaving Safer Places accommodation, survivors and families can choose to access Outreach support.

If you are in immediate danger or in the event of an emergency always dial 999

Latest

Stalking Advocacy Service

The Safer Places Stalking Advocacy team is made up of professional staff offering short to medium term support to women and men affected by stalking in the community.
Children's Services

With the support of Children in Need funding we deliver a therapeutic Children's Service to families living in our refuges in Hertfordshire this includes play, drama, art and craft, talking. We work with the survivor and their child to rebuild and attune relationships, to support the child to make sense of their world, to help parents to be better equipped with supporting their child’s difficulties and offer a safe and contained space where the child can express their thoughts and feelings.

Are you in a trauma bond?

A blog post about trauma bonds from Lexie - Safer Places' Children and Families Worker
Level 3 Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA)

Each year more than 100,000 people in the UK are at imminent risk of being murdered or seriously injured as a result of domestic abuse (Safe Lives, 2015). The IDVA course designed for professionals working with families affected by domestic abuse. This qualification will enhance professionals’ practical knowledge, improving the response and ensuring the safety of victims and their families.
J9 Initiative

The J9 Domestic Abuse Initiative aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse and assist survivors to access support safely by training professionals and members of the community to recognise domestic abuse and respond to survivors. Once J9 trained, the J9 logo is displayed, letting survivors know that they have a safe place to access information and use a telephone to contact support services.
Work With Us

At Safer Places, our team are our most important resource and a real asset to us. Having a highly competent, survivor focused, experienced and resourceful team is key to delivering a high quality service. We are proud of our team and our organisational culture is really important to us. Working for Safer Places is no ordinary job. Every role in our organisation plays a part in delivering on our Mission. We work hard to create an environment that inspires and empowers staff to give their bes
Level 3 Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)

The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) 2022 estimate that 2.3% of adults aged 16 years and over were victims of sexual assault (including attempts) in the previous year. This course will build your skills, knowledge, and confidence when supporting victims of sexual abuse including victims from reporting through to the court system.
About our Training

At Safer Places we have a range of training courses and qualifications available, from short 3 hour sessions to Level 2, 3 and 4 accredited qualifications.
Contact Us
Accommodation

Safer Places has 8 refuges across Essex and Hertfordshire, including specialist therapeutic refuge spaces for women with multiple needs and women with no recourse to public funding. A refuge is a temporary safe home where survivors of domestic abuse and their children can stay. It is staffed by experienced and dedicated support workers who provide individual client led support and help survivors find new safe accommodation. Our accommodation includes a combination of self-contained f
Mission and Values

Vision Safer Places vision is a society where everyone lives a life free from fear and abuse
Help in a Crisis

If you or your children are in immediate danger, call the police on 999. If you are not in immediate danger and would like to talk to us about your options, call our helpline on 03301 025811. We will provide you with the support and information you need to consider your options and decide what to do to improve your safety and that of your children.