in-house support...

Being admitted to a refuge can be daunting but staff are always on hand.  Our staff work with residents offering help with:

• claiming benefits:  help is available for residents claiming state benefits, e.g. income support, housing benefit.
• housing applications:  TWR works closely with Taunton Deane Borough Council ensuring that the needs of our residents are met.  We have a designated homeless housing officer who regularly visits the refuge to answer any query our residents may have about being re-housed.
• registering with GP / Dentist:  most of our residents attend the same GP surgery with whom  we have a long standing relationship.  Your first visit is accompanied by a member of staff to help allay any queries.  Of course residents are free to choose their own GP whilst in Taunton.  There is also a NHS dental surgery close to the refuge that is currently taking on new patients.

• accessing legal services:  residents  who need legal advice are  usually referred to either Stones  or Bevan and Ashford  -  two local firms of solicitors based in the town centre, where legal advice can be sought.   Of course women are encouraged to make their own arrangements.
• schools:  there are several local  schools that your children can access.  Appointments can be made for mothers to meet up, within the refuge, with an  education officer to discuss their child's/children's educational needs.

on-going support...

Our  resettlement worker is employed to help with the practical side of leaving the refuge such as organising transport through to help and guidance with setting up electricity, gas accounts etc. and offer continued support when women and their families have settled into their new homes.

Emotional support is also just as important and help is always on hand. Possible feelings of isolation and loneliness, often felt by women leaving the security of TWR,  reinforces our belief in offering on-going support, whether by telephone contact, personal visits and/or support group participation. Every effort is made  to lessen the impact of settling into a new community.

One of our support  groups was set up 12 months ago and is open to both current and former residents and also for any woman in the local community who may have or who are experiencing domestic violence. 

The daytime locally held meetings are held fortnightly between 1 - 3pm.  Children are welcome and there is a play area to help give mums a short break!  It's a popular drop-in service that can offer practical and emotional help along with a cup of tea!

Our other support group has recently been set up mainly aimed at women without children who can meet up of an evening between 7 - 9pm.  The venue, again, is local and is in easy reach of public transport.