Refuge

What is a refuge?

A refuge is safe emergency accommodation for women and children who are at risk from domestic abuse at home and who need a safe place to stay. We can be contacted all day every day on the freephone number 1800 200 504 or 061 412354.
Women can stay as many times as they need to. Some women stay once, and some women stay more than one time.

How we work

At ADAPT we aim to support every woman’s needs as best we can. We have trained staff with a lot of experience. Women have told us what has helped them and what has not helped them and this has informed how we work and what we support we offer. Everybody’s situation is different, and we support you with what is happening for you.

Confidentiality

We have strict confidentiality guidelines, and everybody’s privacy must be respected.

In the refuge you can be very private, or you can be more sociable. It is your decision to make.

All women are asked not to discuss or give any information about anyone in the refuge – other residents, visitors or staff.

Staying in ADAPT

We will support you all through your stay with the emotional and practical support you need.
You can talk about any concerns or worries you may have with staff. It is up to you to choose how much support we give you.
We are there to guide, help and empower.
You are encouraged to take the time to rest in a safe environment.
We will support you for as long as you need refuge and make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Some women leave their relationships and some return.
Some women may need refuge only once whereas others may need it many times.
We can support you in whatever decision you make.

Children/Young people

We are very experienced with children and young people coming to refuge and understand that it is a worrying time for both. Children and young people of all ages can stay and we will do all we can help them settle and feel safe. ADAPT also provides a Child and Youth Service which you can access for free. For more information on this service please click here.

If you are not sure if you need refuge

If you are worried or not sure what to do, please call us. Sometimes talking to our staff can help, we can answer all your questions before you come. You can ring as many times as you need to. Some women like to see the refuge before they decide to come. Whatever you need we are here for you. We also work with other organisations that may be able to help you.

Refuge FAQ's

How do I get a place in the refuge?

It is helpful if you ring the helpline number first. If it is not safe for you to ring, you can come straight to ADAPT. We will talk to you about your situation to help us understand what support you might need. If we have space and you need refuge, you will be able to stay. Sometimes the refuge is full. When this happens, we can help you to find other safe accommodation until we have a space. If you do not need refuge, we can help you to find another safe place to stay.

Can my children and teenagers come with me?

Yes, your children and teenagers are welcome to come with you.

I have adult children living with me – can they come?

If you have adult children who need refuge and want to come with you, please let us know.

How will I get there?

If you ring the free helpline number 1800 200 504 We will help you. Otherwise, you can drive, get a taxi or a bus.

How long can I stay?

You can stay in the refuge for as long as you need to stay. Some women stay for a few days, others stay longer.

What is the accommodation like?

This refuge is a warm, clean, bright, welcoming place. The accommodation is of a high standard and homely. Our refuge has many apartments which are self contained. This means the apartment is only used by you and your family and has everything you need. The apartment has a bedroom, kitchen/sitting room and bathroom. The apartments are clean, bright and warm. All the apartments have a tv, washing machine and all the appliances you need.

Is the building safe?

Yes, we have a very good security system that operates 24 hours a day.

What happens when I arrive to stay?

We will show you to your apartment and make sure that you have everything you need. You will be given time to settle in. We will also talk to you about information we might need during your stay. This information is usually for safety, GDPR or health and safety reasons. We collect some information for statistics. There are some guidelines about staying in the refuge and we will explain everything to you when you are settled.

What happens with my children when I arrive?

The young people/children can stay with you all the time when you arrive, or they can spend some time with childcare staff in one of our child friendly areas.

Can my children go to school?

Children can continue to attend their usual school or we can help with a new school placement. When children cannot go to school, they can spend some time in our child and youth area.

What happens during the daytime?

We encourage women to live the life they would like to live during their stay. If it is safe to do so we would encourage you to do whatever you would like to do. We can support you with these choices and look at doing them safely. There are activities in ADAPT that you can go to during the day if you would like to. They include amongst other activities hair and beauty, bingo, relaxation and fitness.

Can I continue to work?

Yes, we have helped women to continue to work, or to find work.

What happens when I leave?

Some women return home, and some women leave their relationships. We support women in both situations. When you are ready to leave the refuge, we will support you in what you want to do and will help you to work out a safety plan that fits with your decision

Can I have visitors?

It is very important that the refuge is a safe and confidential place for everyone. For this reason, we do not encourage visitors. However, in some situations it is necessary to allow visitors.

What if I have gone back home but want to come back to refuge?

Many women have come to stay with us many times and sometimes over many years. If you would like to come back to stay please ring us we want to support you.