Honeycomb Group secures £1.5 million to expand on domestic abuse support in Stoke-on-Trent

Honeycomb Group’s domestic abuse service, Glow, delivers accommodation and specialist support to women, men and children impacted by domestic abuse across the city.

Last year they saw a huge demand for their safe accommodation, providing homes for 155 adults and 205 children across Staffordshire. However, they had to decline 77% of all safe accommodation referrals due to capacity. It’s a similar picture nationally, with 61.9% of refuge service referrals in England being declined, in the year ending March 2021, also due to a lack of capacity.*

This year, thanks to a £1.5 million boost from the city council, Glow will be able to develop their services across Stoke-on-Trent and enhance their current existing safe accommodation offer. This will enable them to provide more specialist and intensive support to individuals with complex needs, move on guidance, support for children and young people and a dedicated volunteer coordinator to improve the recruitment, training and retention of volunteers.

The DASSA (Domestic Abuse Sanctuary and Safe Accommodation) service will see three new roles created, as well as Sanctuary measures, provided by home support provider, and fellow Honeycomb Group brand, Revival.

Group Chief Executive Julie Guildford Smith is proud to see Honeycomb Group’s domestic abuse charity and home support specialist come together to deliver such an important project. She said: “The funding will not only sustain much-needed refuge and community accommodation but further the security and safety of the women, men and children living in these homes. I am proud to see Glow and Revival teams join forces to provide such a vital service. Collaboration is key here at Honeycomb Group when it comes to delivering tailored projects and services to meet the needs of our partners and local communities.”

Sanctuary measures, such as personal alarms, window locks and security cameras, are designed to keep victims of domestic abuse safe in their own homes. This prevents homelessness and enables them to stay in their own homes when it is safe to do so. This provision will also come with a dedicated Sanctuary Coordinator, who will work closely with customers and coordinate involvement from statutory services, and local provider New Era, to make sure customers are fully supported.

Head of Domestic Violence and Abuse Services, Lucy Willis, explains more:
“DASSA will provide a full support service for domestic abuse victims in Stoke-on-Trent. This will include Sanctuary measures for those that can safely remain in their own homes, and safe accommodation for others. There will be a complete focus on ongoing support and empowerment, with customers having a freedom of choice when it comes to the support that they receive. Lifestyles are different, so we’re keen to deliver a flexible service that works for the individual."

“We know that there is such a demand for domestic abuse services at the moment, particularly across Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve seen it ourselves first-hand. That’s why we’re excited to expand our capacity by building on existing services. We can’t wait to see the impact that this service has in the city, and we’re grateful to the city council for their support.”

Find out more about Glow by visiting www.findtheglow.org.uk


*https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/domesticabusevictimservicesenglandandwales/2022