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Vulnerable Hastings women… the word on the street
At a crafting table
Photo: Kuniko Kamioka
These women face homelessness, loneliness,
depression, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol
misuse, and mental health problems. Many are
very fearful and cut off from their families. changes that help transform their lives.
We’ve developed close links with key people
in the Sussex Police, the Mental Health Unit and
other agencies. The Women’s Institute has been
great too – donating clothes and homeware for
our women moving into a flat.
Every Thursday, during school term time, we
open from 12.30-2.30pm. Safehaven Women
offers a cosy, comfortable space where they can
hang out, while enjoying a chat with friends
over a cup of tea and coffee, and they get a
nutritious lunch too.
There’s a nail bar where they get pampered
and often share their stories with us, all in
complete confidence. They get the chance to
get creative at our craft-making table. To meet
their more basic needs, we have a boutique-
style clothing bank and personal hygiene
products. These are little basics we all take
for granted that can give someone back their
dignity.
Working with these women is amazing. You
realise how fortunate you are to have a safe
home and a roof over your head and a warm
bed at night. It can get very emotional – we’ve
8 GRAPEVINE
laughed together, we’ve cried together.
We pray for all our women each week
and it’s so rewarding when God makes small
We prayed for someone we hadn’t seen
for ages and she walked through the door a
few minutes later! I feel God is looking out for
these incredible women.
What they say …
These are some comments from the
Safehaven Women.
‘I don’t think I’ve smiled so much in
any one day.’
‘I love Safehaven… it’s so relaxing.
I just love it! I want to come every
week.’
‘I love that it’s for women only.’
‘I feel like I can be myself, no-one
judges me.’
‘I felt safe when I walked in the
door.’
‘It feels so peaceful here.’
To get involved or for more information, email:
Local contacts
sarah.larkin@hthchurch.org or visit http:// Hastings Council offers direct advice and support for homelessness:
www.hthchurch.org/get-involved-1/2017/8/10/ https://www.hastings.gov.uk/housing/vulnerable/homeless
safehaven-women For anyone needing help or wanting to report domestic abuse:
As the taboos are disappearing, more https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my_community/community_safety/safety/
vulnerable men are coming forward for help. domestic violence
Safehaven Men has just been launched at HTH. The Samaritans
For details email timbell@hthchurch.org (0845 790 90 90)
Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA):
Government consulting (01424 444010)
On March 8th the Government launched a http://www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org.uk/member-directory?search_
consultation on domestic violence, with a view api_views_fulltext=ADVICE+WOMEN
to introducing new laws and stronger powers to The Safe in Sussex partnership
protect survivors. http://www.safeineastsussex.org.uk/about-us.html
Our MP, Amber Rudd, was delighted that Inspire services supporting vulnerable women involved in the criminal
justice system
action was being taken She said, ‘We want to (01424 423344 or mobile 074632 64108)
hear from everyone who has been affected by inspire.group@inspireproject.cjsm.net
domestic abuse to understand how, together, we The Foundations Projects for women whose children have been
can put an end to it once and for all. removed from their care - (01424 725050 or mobile: 07919 298460)
‘While there is still much more to be done, I am foundationsproject@eastsussex.gov.uk
confident this tough new approach will change Sussex mental health line
the way we think about domestic violence and 0300 3040 100 (limited service)
help to remove it from our communities.’ https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/urgent-help-crisis
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GRAPEVINE 9