Loading ...What is the Refuge Project?
A refuge is a safe house where women and children can stay if they feel they are in danger from an abuser. The address is not advertised anywhere and there is nothing on the building to say what it is. Refuges are normally women-only spaces, but sometimes men have to be allowed in to perform essential maintenance work – we will always try to find women workers if we can.
BSWA refuges have staff that work with both women and children whilst they are staying there. Most of the BSWA refuge places are self-contained flats; the rest share some facilities.
What can the Refuge Project do for me?
If you feel you are unsafe where you are, you can refer yourself to the Birmingham Refugeline – 0800 111 4223 – and they will try to find you a safe, suitable place to stay, which may be one of the BSWA refuges.
If you are entitled to Housing Benefit, this will cover most of the cost of your stay (our workers will help you make an application for HB) – there may be a small additional charge which you would need to cover. If you are not entitled to Housing Benefit, you may be asked to pay the rent charges, or funding may be found for you.
Our Refuge Project Workers will offer you emotional support, as well as practical assistance with practical problems such as sorting out money. If you have children, our Children & Family Support Workers will arrange fun play times and activities for them, as well as working with you to arrange changes of school places, etc. And when you are ready to consider moving out, our Resettlement Workers will help you find a new place to live.
Because refuges are women-only spaces, we can’t accommodate boys who are 14 or older. If you have boys of this age, there are other agencies who can accommodate you – please call the Birmingham Refugeline for details.
Unfortunately, we are not set up to allow pets into the refuges.
You can stay up to a year in one of our refuges.
How do I access the Refuge Project?
You will need to ring the Birmingham Refugeline: 0800 111 4223. They will ask you a number of questions about you (and your children, if you have any) so that they can find the most suitable place available – please note that this may not be in a BSWA refuge, but may be in one of the other refuges which are available in Birmingham.