brighter futures @ safer places
Essex
Safer Places (formerly known as Harlow Women’s Aid) has over 40 years’
experience in delivering holistic support services to adult and child survivors
of Domestic Abuse across Essex and Hertfordshire. Over the years we have grown
and adapted our services to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Domestic
abuse has both a devastating and radiating impact and affects the survivor and
their families, friends, colleagues and communities. Our team take a
non-judgemental and respectful approach to their work and we will do all that we
can to ensure that everyone who needs our services can use them, how they want
to, when they want to, and where they want to. Domestic abuse does not
discriminate and happens in every community. We are proud to work inclusively
with anyone who has experienced abuse and our services are designed to reach
everyone impacted by abuse. To do this we offer a range of services and work
collaboratively with our partners in a range of venues. The support that we
offer is holistic, trauma informed and individually tailored to each survivor as
we know that although there are common behavioural patterns, not one experience
is the same as any other and there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. We know
that survivor’s needs are better met when they are involved in creating
solutions as equals so our support is co-produced alongside survivors. Our
highly qualified staffs are there to empower survivors, giving them the
knowledge and confidence to choose the steps on their journey to recovery. Many
go on to achieve things they once thought of as impossible. The foundations of
our organisation were built by survivors – as were the foundations of one of our
refuges. A former project saw a number of survivors qualify as carpenters,
bricklayers, painters, plasterers and amenity horticulturalists. The refuge now
accommodates 10 families in separate self-contained flats built solely by
survivors, for survivors. We recognise that if we are to see our vision
materialise and help to create a world where everyone lives a life free from
fear and abuse, we need to respond to abuse together, as one. Our training helps
professionals and members of the community to recognise the signs of domestic
abuse, understand the issues and respond quickly and effectively when a survivor
chooses to access support. From short awareness sessions to full IDVA and ISAC
qualifications we are committed to sharing our experience and what works to make
more families safer. Safer Places vision is a society where everyone lives a
life free from fear and abuse Mission Safer Places exist to drive down the
incidence and impact of domestic and sexual abuse and to support those who use
our services in their journey to recovery, resilience and independence. Values
These are the values we promise to uphold so we never loose sight of our
mission: Client Led – We empower our clients to exercise choice and control of
their support. We ensure client’s voices are heard and that they impact our
decision making and shape our services Accessible – We work inclusively with our
clients, partners and communities. Anyone who is at risk of experiencing abuse
can access our services when, how and where they need them. Respectful – We
adopt a trauma informed, holistic approach to support. We listen and believe,
are non-judgemental and open and honest about what we can and cannot do.
Effective – We deliver high quality services that work for our clients. Our
practice is informed by our clients, research, evidence and learning from
experts by experience.
