NWA aims to provide emergency access, short term residential accommodation and associated support services for women with or without children fleeing domestic abuse. We aim to ensure that fair access is given to minority and “hard to reach” groups.

NWA is in a confidential location. We will accept women from any geographical area; however, we are unable to accommodate women who previously resided in the local area. If an emergency admission is necessary for a woman who has previously lived in the local area, staff will ensure that she is moved to a more suitable accommodation location as soon as possible.

NWA accepts referrals from any agency and self referrals. We will complete a referral form with you or your referring agency and you will need to provide us with some personal information about your current and former situation.

NWA employs one full-time Refuge Manager, two part-time Refuge Support Workers, one part-time Admin/Finance Worker, one part-time Refuge Children & Young People’s Support Worker, one part-time Outreach Worker and one part-time Children & Young People’s Outreach Worker.

The cost of staying at NWA is split into two sections:

1. Rent £163.63 - If you are in receipt of IS or JSA, this will be paid in full by Housing Benefit.

If you are not in receipt of IS or JSA there may be a charge for rent. Staff will offer advice on the issue.

2. Service - Is payable weekly by all residents and covers the following:

Charge £16.43 - heating, lighting, cooking facilities, water rates, TV Licence.

The support you receive will be based on an individual assessment of your needs and with your full involvement. All residents are expected to participate in a Support Plan. This ensures that staff meet your needs and are consistent in the support you receive.

Staff are available to offer you emotional support, information, advocacy and assistance with, for example, claiming welfare benefits, legal options, healthcare, education, housing and move-on. They are also here for you to talk to about your experiences good and bad and about any problems you might be having. They will listen and support you in a totally confidential and non-judgmental way.

We have 6 family rooms at NWA and usually accommodate around 6 women with or without children at any given time, although we are unable to accept boys over the age of 15.

At NWA we understand that women are arriving in emotional and sometimes physical crisis. We also understand that the decision to leave the domestic situation may have been a very sudden one.

We keep a supply of clothes and toiletries for women and children and a well equipped play room with plenty of toys.

You will need to buy your own food and provide your own meals for you and your children. There is a shared kitchen at NWA which is fully equipped, with all crockery and cooking utensils provided.

Where possible NWA aims to have welcome packs available containing emergency food, towels and toiletry supplies.

The bedrooms at NWA are fully equipped, with beds, bedding, cots if needed, wardrobes, chests of drawers and bedside cabinets. Due to storage limitations we are unable to accommodate large pieces of furniture.

No. If you wish to insure your belongings you will need to take out an insurance policy. Staff can assist you with this if required.

NWA is a safe and secure property, we have 24 hour CCTV protection. Both the entrance gate and the main door are permanently locked and residents, staff and visitors to NWA must be allowed in through a buzzer and intercom system.

NWA has a large furnished communal lounge with a TV, video/DVD and free view, a large fitted and well equipped kitchen, dining room, playroom and conservatory. There are bath and shower facilities in our 2 bathrooms, with 3 separate toilets. NWA has laundry facilities which are available to all residents.

For children, we have a secure indoor and outdoor play area, with a part-time Children’s Worker to encourage positive play and parenting.

At NWA we respect the rights of our residents to become as little or as much involved with activities. We organise play and other activities for the children, which parent/carers are actively encouraged to be involved in, outings during the school breaks for all residents, and in-house training sessions such as self-defence, first aid and aromatherapy. Staff at NWA are able to offer advice on all local facilities and amenities, including recreation centres, colleges and entertainment.

You are free to come and go as you please, provided house rules regarding nights out/away from NWA are adhered to.

Staff will be able to advise you on local cultural and religious facilities as well as schools and colleges, and support you to attend if this is part of your support plan with us.

In order to maintain the confidential location of NWA, friends are not allowed to visit NWA. Staff will support women to arrange meeting venues away from NWA. Children who wish to visit their parent/carer are permitted and staff will arrange this with the woman and her child/children and any other agency involved.

Staff at NWA will be able to advise you on the number of specialist services available in the area, including GP’s and other health professionals and voluntary agencies. We have a dedicated Health Visitor, who visits the refuge on a weekly basis.

In the 32 years since NWA was established we have had very many positive outcomes for the women and children who have used our services.

The most positive feedback that we receive are letters and cards from ex-residents who have stayed with us and have started new lives for themselves and their children.

All residents are encouraged to complete exit questionnaires and we try and use this feedback to improve both the accommodation and service provision.

House meetings are an opportunity for residents to raise any queries, complaints or praise about NWA. It is also a forum to exchange ideas about service provision and its development. Everyone is encouraged to contribute to the agenda, which is placed on the notice board in the kitchen. A member of staff chairs every meeting and minutes are taken. You should attend a house meeting unless you have agreed with a member of staff to send your apologies. If a situation arises in the house that you feel needs to be dealt with urgently, please let a member of staff know and an emergency meeting will be arranged.

At NWA we respect that whilst you stay here, this is your home. We ask you to consider your behaviour and its impact on other residents and children and their safety. The house rules are included in your Licence Agreement, and will be explained to you on admission. The refuge is a shared house and we have agreed on some rules to make communal living easier.

If you have a suggestion to amend the house rules you can discuss your feeling and ideas at the house meetings.

The rules are a condition of your licence agreement with us. If we consider that you are not respecting the house rules then we may end your licence agreement and you will have to leave. Normally a 28 day notice will be issued for you to move out, however in cases of a serious breach in the rules, for example, violence, bringing boyfriends to the refuge or drug use on the premises you may be asked to leave within 24 hours.

NWA has a part-time Children & Young People’s Worker who can organise play and learning activities for different age groups. We have indoor and outdoor children’s play areas, with plenty of play equipment and toys.

The Support Staff and Children’s Worker at NWA will provide you with information about local schools and availability of places. They will support you in completing the necessary paperwork and where possible attend the initial interview at the school with you.

The Children’s Worker provides individual, group and family support which is aimed at reducing the impact of domestic abuse on the emotional health of children and young people. There is always a member of staff available that you or your child can talk to. Support is provided to parent/carers to enable them to recognise and respond to their children’s needs. All information will be kept confidential unless a child protection disclosure is made which may need to be passed on to another person who can help.