Panah Residential Floating Support

Panah Refuge

For Black Minority Ethnic women and children fleeing domestic violence.

The service provides emergency housing and support for BME women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. We aim to provide safe, temporary accommodation and support, and enable service users to make informed choices and decisions regarding their future.

Our definition of domestic violence is a broad one and includes threatened or actual physical, sexual, emotional and mental abuse from a partner or other family members.

This includes fleeing forced marriages.

The accommodation

The refuge is a large house in a residential area of Newcastle and is funded through rental income and Newcastle's Supporting People Programme.

The accommodation is in 4 family rooms for an adult and children. There are shared bathrooms and toilets, and a communal kitchen, lounge and laundry facilities. We provide both indoor and outdoor play facilities and employ creche workers to help mothers and support the younger children through play activities.

The Support

Support is available on site 5 days a week from a staff team, all of whom are women from a BME background, including a Service Manager, 2 Client Service Coordinators, with support from a Housekeeper and an off-site administrator. Clients have 24-hour telephone support outside on-site support hours.

All service users are allocated a Linkworker from within the permanent staff team, who will work with the service users to develop a personal support plan. This support plan is tailored to the needs of the individual, is responsive to changing needs and we seek to involve all other relevant agencies. As part of the support plan, we will also provide practical advice and support to assist service users in obtaining suitable move-on accommodation. We will ensure that the appropriate follow-up support is in place to assure the success of the move-on option.

Who we house

Referrals are accepted from women (with or without children) who:

  • have experienced domestic violence
  • are over 16 years of age
  • do not have male children over the age of 12
  • there is no requirement for applicants to be residents of Newcastle

We regret there is no wheelchair accessible accommodation at the service.

Referrals should be made initially by telephone and the admission process will include a full assessment of needs and risk.

Conditions of occpancy

All clients are issued with a Licence Agreement for an initial period of 13 weeks.

When a client moves into the service they are given a Welcome Pack. The content of this and other information leaflets are fully discussed with each individual. We actively discourage and challenge harassment or discrimination of any kind, and have both a complaints procedure and anti-harassment policy. These are explained to all new clients at the time we issue a licence. Clients are also required to abide by the House Rules, which run alongside the Licence Agreement and which are reviewed regularly in consultation with the clients.

Quality

Stonham actively encourages service users to become involved in the running of the service through house meetings, questionnaires and Stonham's national service user survey. The service reports regularly to the Panah Steering Group of former board members and partner agencies and is subject to the evaluation and audit procedures within Stonham. The service is also subject to a periodic review of by the Supporting People Team.

Number of places: 4 adults plus children.
Service type: Housing with support.
Accommodation: Family room with shared facilities.

We also have an Outreach worker.

For more information telephone the Service Manager on 0191 284 6998 or write to

The Service Manager
Panah
PO Box 27
Newcastle
Tyne and Wear
NE3 1EU