Shelters and Refuge
“When I arrived at the refuge I felt my world had ended. Three months later,
I’m still here, but things are getting easier.”
Women’s refuges and shelters are safe houses where women with and without children can flee domestic abuse, in addition there are now a few refuges for male victims of abuse. Refuges have a confidential address and enable victims of abuse to get away from their situation and access professional support to move on, resettle in the community and deal with the aftermath of the abuse.
Some refuges are a shared house, where you and your children will have a bedroom but you will share other facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms, with other residents. In other refuges the accommodation is in separate units including all the basic facilities. Either way, meeting other people in a refuge who have experienced abuse can be extremely helpful and supportive.
Although all refuges and shelters are different, they work together as part of a national network and can help in moving you to a different area of the country. Some people may want to stay in a refuge as near to their current home as possible because of issues such as school, work or family responsibilities. Some refuges will take people from the local area but some will perceive the risk of being found by the perpetrator as too high and only accept referrals from people outside of the local area.
If you live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland and need refuge please contact our Helpline on 0808 80 200 28. If you live outside of this area please contact the National Helpline or find a local service here.