REFUGE
We provide safe supported housing to South Asian women and children. Our support is provided in a culturally sensitive, non-judgemental manner by Asian women to Asian women in their own language. We can provide refuge accommodation to other women who may identify similarities with us through language, culture or religion.
We provide a confidential safe place to stay to a number of families at any one time in our refuges. Women can stay with us until they are confidently able to move on to second-stage housing enabling them to move on to independent living, or move straight into independent living. We use an intersectional, non-judgmental approach and ensure confidence-building and empowerment is always our priority when supporting families.
We provide individually tailored support to women in our refuges in a confidential and culturally sensitive manner in their own language.
We offer one-to-one support through individual casework support sessions, advice on welfare benefits, advice on legal options including injunctions and orders, housing and tenancy related issues, counselling and specialist immigration advice. Our staff are qualified IDVA’s (Independent Domestic Violence Advocates) and support women in their chosen language.
Our specialist refuge staff will ensure that:
a) women and their children feel safe at all times;
b) women learn to prioritise their emotional wellbeing and mental health;
c) other support needs for our women are specifically addressed, such as learning to manage their own finances and budgeting to help improve their financial situation;
d) women receive help with training and volunteering opportunities to prepare them for independent living;
e) advocacy is provided to ensure women are empowered and their voices heard to enable them to make their own informed choices.
We do this by providing:
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One-to-one support and group work sessions;
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In-house counselling (conducted in preferred language);
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Vital life skills such as first aid, cooking, learning to use the tube and bus network;
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Workshops on: housing; immigration; e-safety and mobile devices; legal orders;
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Celebrating International Women’s Day, white ribbon day and religious festivals;
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Recreational activities including day activities and outings ; and
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Specific activities which are child focussed.
When a family is ready to move on to their new accommodation we ensure women have developed the emotional and practical skills required to transition into more independent mainstream living with confidence.
KIRAN HELPLINE -
CALL US NOW ON 020 8558 1986
Phone lines are open Monday - Friday : 9.30 am - 4.30 pm
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL THE POLICE ON 999
How we've helped
- Saadiya -
“Saadiya came to our refuge with her son, after fleeing domestic abuse from her husband. She came to the UK in 2016 on a spousal visa and obtained indefinite leave to remain under destitute domestic violence with the help of Kiran Support Services. Saadiya's husband treated her like a slave having to do all the household chores. She was verbally, physically, emotionally and financially abused by her husband. He didn't allow Saadiya to go anywhere and to have contact with her family. She suffered a lot of physical. Emotional and financial abuse at the hand of her husband and In-laws. However finally after speaking to someone at her sons’s nursery she gets the courage to contact police who referred her to Kiran Support Services where she was offered temporary accommodation and support.
Saadiya received one-to-one and practical support from refuge staff to claim welfare benefits and attended life skills courses. She was referred to attend counselling. She was supported to make informed choices about her future and slowly she became more positive about life and started gaining her confidence back. She received help in applying to the borough of choice to make a homelessness application and further received re-settlement support. Saadiya has now gained a paid employment and living a stress and abuse free life with her son in a borough of her choice. “
- Iram -
" I had just turned 18 years old and was new to the country, I could not speak much English and I feared for my life, when I ran out of my family home with just my passport to the nearest police station.
I was then referred to KSS by my social worker. The refuge support worker understood my situation and did not judge me when I told her my dad was forcing me to marry my first cousin back home. I felt heard and believed not just by my support worker but also my counsellor.
When I first arrived in the refuge I felt alone, depressed and scared, but with the support from KSS and my case worker I was not just provided a safe place to sleep but was emotionally supported through counselling and one to one sessions.
I was also worried about money as I could not apply for benefits, however KSS financially supported me in buying food and clothes as I had nothing while my immigration fought my case.
My caseworker helped me enrol onto a training scheme which led to employment and this boosted my self- esteem and confidence. I also felt safe as I was supported in getting a Forced Marriage Protection order against my dad. If it wasn’t for KSS I would probably be stuck in a forced marriage. KSS changed my life. "