To ask for anything you know about Woman's Aid refuges?

[dontgiveupyoustillhavefriends]

I really need to consider using one.

But from what I've gathered, from a few sources, they're often in flats or buildings.

I worry because I'm often in a wheelchair these days. Or using crutches if I don't have my pram for support:

It'll be me and my DS.

If anyone knows anything about one in the south east, would you mind saying and doing a name change to keep it confidential? Of course I'm not asking where or exact location, just rough idea of the area, such as Brentwood, Shrewsbury, Lincoln... As I believe woman's aid let you choose who you go to for help, location wise.

Accessibility is a must

Contact womens aid. They wont put you somewhere unsuitable for your needs however it does tend to be where they have space. They put me 3 hours away

South west wise there are ones in bourneouth poole and wiltshire. Not sure of others but there are a lot just sadly there are usually all one in one out

There are a number of refuges that have disabled accessibility including wet rooms etc.

There are two main types of refuges; a room in a house with communal areas or self contained flats. Some are a mixture of both.

If you call the 24 hour National Domestic Violence
Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247, they will be able to do a refuge search for you and let you know where have availability.

I was in one near Cambridge that was rooms in a large house. They won't send you anywhere you can't access properly, they'll evaluate your needs and get you the best help they can.

Hi, thanks for the replies

What happens if they put me far away? What do I do about my job? The DC childminder?

I know a little about 4 in the south east. They are all rooms in shared houses with communal kitchens. I don't know about accessibility, as I haven't visited in person, but I strongly suspect that they have some accessible rooms as I have had at least one client with mobility issues who has recently moved on from a local refuge.

You don't say how old your DS is. There are age limits for male children in most refuges, at some it is 16, but I'm not sure if it's the same across the board.

Bear in mind that the council has a duty to help you if you are fleeing DV. That can be any council, it doesn't have to be your local one. They may well have access to other temp accommodation that is more suitable.

Refuges can get very busy. The organisation I work for gets an email whenever one of the ones in my area has a vacancy, and we can go several days without hearing about a vacancy.