The shop that’s changing women’s lives
A one stop shop for victims of domestic violence is helping women on probation turn their lives around.
Wales Community Rehabilitation Company is using the Swansea Domestic Abuse One Stop Shop as a base for delivering probation services specifically targeted at women.
And some of the women – who may have suffered domestic abuse themselves - have benefitted so much from the course they attend as part of their community sentences that they continue to visit even when they have completed those sentences.
They have set up their own Facebook page to keep in touch and support each other and a number have asked to sign up for voluntary courses run by Hafan Cymru, the charitable housing association behind the one stop shop opposite Swansea Grand Theatre.
It was officially opened by Leighton Andrews, the Welsh Assembly’s Public Affairs Minister, at the end of September. The Welsh Government has helped fund the centre, along with the Big Lottery which provided almost £1m.
The result is a light, bright building where women can get help with everything from victim support to housing advice. Wales CRC has two full time offender managers for women based there and employ two facilitators for the women-only probation courses known as Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.
Hannah Lewis, one of those facilitators, said: “The Women’s RAR is a strength-based approach in developing women’s existing skills and empowering them to make changes to their lives, so they are less likely to make regrettable decisions and reoffend. We encourage them to let go of negative feelings and recognise how they can move on.
“Meeting here helps them develop positive female friendship groups and we can tailor sessions for their individual needs. They don’t view probation as punishment but as a way of finding support and building upon the positives. When they have finished their RAR they can tap into other services.”
Kate Hooch, Probation Services Officer, said: “Women don’t feel judged when they come here and the multi-agency approach means we can get them the help they need. We find they really engage with us, they feel safe and supported and they want to come here.”
Sharing the building with other agencies has also allowed probation staff to share ideas and discover new opportunities for supporting the women.
Alongside sessions in building confidence and employment skills the women can try classes such as arts and crafts, tai chi and cookery.
Sharon* says she was “absolutely terrified” when she arrived at the centre on her first day, but now she doesn’t want to leave, even though she has completed her RAR.
“Until this year I had never been in trouble and on my first day here I cried. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and isolate myself. I used to bottle things up but now I want to talk about my experiences and I’m about to start counselling sessions.
“I have so much more confidence since coming here and I still come in every week to sit and chat over a cup of coffee. Last week I even volunteered to speak to the women who have just started here about how it has helped me. It’s so friendly and no one judges you,” she said.
*Name changed