Survivors of domestic abuse often face the incredibly difficult choice between staying in an abusive household or leaving to find safety. There is a national need for additional refuge accommodation. Women’s Aid Federation of England reports a 23% shortfall in refuge bed spaces. In Hampshire in 2023/24, more than 150 victims were turned away from refuge due to lack of space and or capacity to support their specialist needs (e.g. wheelchair access, substance misuse, complex family needs).

Refuge support for women and children is at the heart of what we do, we believe that refuge goes beyond providing a safe place to stay. We are asking the community to support our journey to achieve our vision of a new 9 bed, purpose-built refuge called Sanctuary. It will house 9 families, increasing bed spaces by 7% in Hampshire and contribute to growth in the national network. The build will also provide two specialist adapted refuge accommodation units for disabled women/children.