Supported Living

Our support services help people live independently by providing safe, secure spaces and support with things like managing a tenancy, to building life skills. It's been great to see many customers across our dedicated schemes have huge progress and growth this year!

Customers supported

moved onto independent living

felt satisfied with support we provided

of young people felt safe

said we helped them to reach their goals

of young people entered work, training, or education

In 2024-25, we supported 155 adults and 189 children through our refuges and community services.

At Exeter Foyer

  • Customers told us they'd like somewhere nice to sit in their rooms, aside from their beds. We were able to secure funding for armchairs for each room, which has had a really positive impact!
  • We introduced regular personal impact assessments, where customers can share with us what they feel is going well, and if there's anything else they need to thrive.
  • We took on a new dispersed flat for young families to move into.
  • We saw two long-term customers move into their own independent living homes.
  • We said goodbye to two customers who went on to placements at university to study law and music production.

We also held a variety of activities at the scheme, such as:

  • A community Summer Fair, with games and a clothes swap,
  • The Foyer Olympics,
  • Activities for seasonal holidays, such as Halloween,
  • A visit from therapy llamas,
  • Barbecues,
  • And two sexual health and wellbeing events.

Stories from our schemes

Moving on

Siblings Tom and Alice*, arrived at one of our Foyers in 2020, after becoming homeless. Both were facing challenges - Alice was very anxious, had an eating disorder, and was in a potentially abusive relationship, while Tom was struggling with autism and depression, which had made it hard to keep a tenancy.

With tailored, intensive support, they were able to focus on their mental health, learn about healthy relationships, and build the skills needed to manage a home. Over time, we helped them to build up their confidence, and they were ready to take the next steps in regaining their independence.

They chose to move into a place together, and we supported them throughout the process of applying for a home. Thanks to a Longleigh grant, Tom and Alice were able to afford moving costs and furniture for their new home. While they settled into their new home, we stayed in touch to make sure they had a helping hand if they needed it.

Working together

Ben* moved into the Foyer after being evicted from another supported housing service due to drug use. He had a long history of drug use, which had severely affected his mental and physical health. We worked closely with social services to make sure Ben was linked in with the right support to tackle his substance use and improve his wellbeing.

During his stay, we were made aware that Ben had been threatened by a drug dealer over an old debt. Keeping our customers safe is always a top priority, so we carried out a safeguarding assessment and put measures in place to ensure everyone was safe and protected.

We knew that Ben would feel unsafe while living locally, so we worked with another Stonewater Foyer in a different area to help him move on. We were really pleased when he was offered a room there, giving him the chance to continue his recovery in a safe environment with the support he needed.

*Names changed for privacy.

At Swindon Foyer and Outreach

  • Customers told us they were really happy with the support services we provide, the improvements made to the look of the scheme, and how approachable and easy to talk to our support team is.

At Dorchester Young Persons Service (DYPS)

  • We set up a new QR code so customers can give feedback on our services quickly and anonymously.
  • We also ran a successful ‘role reversal day’, where colleagues and customers swapped roles. This helped everyone understand each other better and showed us ways to improve the scheme. As a result, we’ve added more activities and linked up with the local youth centre to explore volunteering opportunities.

Here for you

Sara* moved into DYPS in January 2024, with nothing but the clothing they were wearing. They had experienced difficult family relationships and struggled with low self-esteem, which made it hard for them to trust others.

Over time, with consistent support and reassurance, Sara began to see that people could be trusted and they had real strengths of their own. After 16 months, they'd made incredible progress - growing in confidence, believing in themselves, and successfully securing full-time employment with accommodation.

We are so proud of the journey they've been on and for everything they've achieved.

*Name changed for privacy.

Keeping your information safe

Each member of our refuge team has individual, secure access to software that allows us to restrict sensitive information, like names and addresses. This prevents information from being shared when it shouldn’t be and helps to protect domestic abuse survivors and children.

“When I found out my child’s information was safe, even from school systems, I finally felt I could breathe again.”

Survivor living in a Stonewater refuge

Women's Refuge

At our South Asian Woman’s Refuge (SAWR), customers enjoy creative activities and being outdoors. In March, we ran a gardening session where customers decorated plant pots and planted flower seeds. It was a fun, hands-on activity that helped build confidence, connection, and a sense of community at the refuge.

Customers living at our South Hampshire Women’s Refuge (SHWR), enjoyed a wellbeing workshop exploring what self-care means through illustrating a "self-care cup" surrounded by ideas for different self-care activities.

“I feel much calmer after that, ready for the world.”

Customer at SHWR

Throughout the session, customers took part in mindfulness exercises, group discussions, and creative activities focused on self-reflection and setting healthy boundaries. Some of the children also joined in alongside their mothers, adding to the warm and supportive atmosphere.

Keeping in touch

“Having that one point of contact made all the difference - she didn’t just help me find a house, she helped me feel at home.”

Leaving a refuge is a vulnerable moment. To make the transition to a permanent home more stable, we introduced Dedicated Housing Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) across our Domestic Abuse Services. These housing specialists guide survivors through every step of the process, providing clarity, reassurance, and a human connection.

“My SPOC helped me understand the system and didn’t give up on me. I felt like someone was finally on my side.”

Former refuge customer

Building services for all

“It’s vital our refuges are safe and welcoming for every survivor. This gave me the tools to make sure that’s a reality.”

We know that domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate, and our services must be inclusive of every survivor. All staff across our Domestic Abuse Services took part in specialist training from Loving Me, a charity supporting trans+ survivors, strengthening our ability to provide affirming, respectful, and informed support to those who may have felt excluded from traditional refuge spaces.