Leicestershire PCC Lord Willy Bach met staff and volunteers behind a new support project helping to safeguard vulnerable young women from domestic abuse.
The PCC has provided two grants of more than £9,000 over the next two years to Adullam Homes Housing Association Ltd for its ‘Enough! Addressing Recovery from Abuse to Change Young Lives’ project.
Adullam runs Bethany Court, a shelter providing accommodation and support for up to 12 homeless and vulnerable young women who are pregnant or have children at any one time, helping them to lead independent lives and integrating them into the world of work.
The Enough! project will work with 50 young mothers aged 16-19 over the next two years, providing more than seven hours of specialist support each week alongside the Family Intervention Worker and existing supported accommodation service delivered by the organisation.
The aim of the project is to increase the support offered to victims to help their recovery, increase their resilience against becoming a repeat victim and reducing the chance of any children exposed to domestic abuse from becoming involved in abusive relationships in the future.
The PCC met with service users and staff last week (Friday 29 March) to find out more about how the project is improving mental wellbeing and safeguarding young women in the future.
“I’m very grateful to the staff and volunteers working on this project for sharing their insight into the recovery journey and emphasising the importance of good emotional and practical support,” said Willy Bach.
“There are a whole host of complex issues affecting the young people in contact with this service from emotional/sexual/physical abuse and substance dependency through to self-harm and mental health issues. In all situations, the key aim is to increase confidence and self-esteem among these survivors and to promote healthy relationships and parenting to stop history repeating itself.
“I’m very encouraged by the work taking place and look forward to further progress updates on the plight of these young women. We cannot underestimate the value in these sanctuaries and I would like to thank everybody involved for their continued commitment and dedication.”
Emma Burke, Operation and Development Manager at Adullam Homes, said: “This is a vitally important project to tackle and break the cycle of abusive relationships.
“The Police and Crime Commissioner has recognised that specialist support is needed to bring the best possible outcomes and we are really pleased to receive this funding, which will make a difference to the lives of many vulnerable young girls and their children.”
Adullam, which was formed in 1972 by Walter Moore MBE, is a specialist provider of housing, resettlement, recovery support and skills training, helping to transform thousands of lives every year.
The organisation received a grant of £9,357 from the PCC’s Prevention Fund in 2018-19 and £9,857 in 2019-20.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Adullam Homes provides high quality accommodation ranging from hostels and self-contained flats through to bedsits and houses. In addition, it also works with private rental agencies, local authorities and other registered providers to further enhance the accommodation available to meet the ever changing needs of the people it supports.
The organisation provides tailored support programmes, based on an individual’s needs, which enables residents to improve their quality of life and live independently. In delivering high quality planned support residents gain confidence, learn to maintain their tenancy and gain budgeting skills which equips them with the necessary skills to fulfil their potential.
For more information about our work please visit http://www.adullam.org.uk
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair - 01283 821012 / 07702 541401
Posted on Wednesday 3rd April 2019