HOUSING WITH SUPPORT FOR WOMEN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Manningham Housing Association provides housing with support for black and Asian women with children fleeing domestic violence through its refuge, namely, the Black Women Support Project (BWSP). The BWSP is the only project in Bradford that can cater for large families. The project consists of eight self-contained units as follows: 3 x 4-bed units; 3 x 3-bed units, and 2 x 2-bed units. In recent times, a dispersed scheme consisting of eight properties has been added to our provision to assist women moving on from the main project. The dispersed scheme is known as OASIS.

About two hundred women are referred to us annually. Approximately, about a hundred women are accommodated annually. The refuge is a safe and secure accommodation for these women and their children. There is a 24-hour cover, the address is confidential and security is reinforced through the use of controlled electronic access and CCTV. Residents and their children have maximum privacy in their self-contained flats with adequate bedrooms.

We support these women and their children in overcoming the trauma and crisis occasioned by their experience of domestic violence. Personal support is provided on the basis of a personal support plan agreed with each woman.

We enable our residents to re-gain control of their life, re-discover their self-worth and self-esteem and the skills necessary for independent living. Staff are there to assist residents to access employment and training opportunities, and to re-engage with statutory services in the areas of health, housing and employment. Specialist services can be arranged within the project, enabling health officers, life-style trainers and child support services to work directly with the Project.

The Role of Support Staff

Housing support staff assist residents to re-connect to society, overcoming social exclusion engendered by domestic violence. This is usually done through the individual support plan for each resident, including social trips, educational trips, and events marking religious and cultural events in the community’s calendar. In addition, the women and their children are linked to relevant services, including re-housing agencies, GP’s, solicitors, schools, training and employment opportunities and cultural facilities.

We promote an environment that reflects the cultural heritage of the residents. Staff provide advocacy, guidance, advice and help with dealing with the various organisations involved in re-establishing the women and their children in the community of their choice.

Altogether, the BWSP provides culturally-sensitive services, including dual language skills amongst staff to ensure that residents and their children can communicate with staff in their own languages, if they are not fluent in English.

If you wish to know more about the BWSP, please click here.

Manningham Housing Association, a specialist housing association providing accomodation for large families and diverse minority communities in Bradford and Keighley, West Yorkshire, promotes tenant involvement and regeneration of local communities in addition to providing development of new homes and services to meet the housing and support needs for the community.
Contact us for enquiries, search our available homes, view our site map or fill out an opinion survey today.