We offer wide-ranging Community Outreach Services that meet femmes experiencing gendered abuse where they are, physically and emotionally, on their journey to safety.
Our Outreach Officers can help survivors express their thoughts, feelings and concerns in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Whatever point they are at in their journey to safety, our Outreach Officers can offer safe and specialist strategies.
Signposting Support
Our Outreach Officers are able to provide information about safety options and services that are available to survivors. We are also able to support to femmes who face multiple issues in their lives, which can include significant mental health and/or problematic substance use, potential involvement in the Criminal Justice system leading to additional barriers in finding and maintaining housing and/or No Recourse to Public Funds, with finding safe accommodation and getting their immigration status regularised.
Support for families and friends
Our practitioners can provide one-to-one sessions for parents and carers of children; friends and family of femmes who have been abused, to help them to support their loved ones through the difficult emotions they are facing.
Community Engagement
Partnership working is central to our approach to provide a comprehensive range of specialist support to meet the needs of Black women and girls. As part of our ongoing work with Black communities in the UK, we actively forge new partnerships and links with community members, religious and community leaders – many who are men and raise awareness of the harmful effects of all forms of violence against women and girls.
The Outreach Team run regular groups and forum spaces for Black femmes.
The aims of the meetings are to gain self-acceptance, self-assertion, build trust in self and in others, to experience more fulfilling lives and to meet fellow survivors and share experiences within our supportive community of survivors.
Lunch Stops
Our Outreach Team runs monthly lunch sessions which provide a safe space for femmes to share, discuss and learn from each other’s experiences. We run these informal sessions alongside specialists. The topics discussed are based on suggestions and outcomes from group discussions.
Women of Colour Safer Community Group
Our Outreach Team runs monthly community forums. The forum is a chance to come together as a community to focus on the safety of women in each area. They engage with local police, support services and community residents, having discussions and sharing updates with a focus on building relationships and creating a safer community for everyone.
How does a survivor access this service?
GPs, social workers, mental health workers or other professionals can refer clients for services through our online referral form.
If a survivor would like to refer themselves for any of the outreach services at HERSANA, they can do this through our online self-referral form or by phoning us on 0333 016 9610.
Do they have to pay for this service?
All of our services are FREE.
What happens after I complete a referral form for someone?
We will contact the survivor to arrange an assessment with one of our Outreach Officers. This assessment is an opportunity for them to ask questions and for us to get relevant information. After this assessment process is completed a joint decision will be made about moving forward with support.
Need more information about this service?
For more information please contact our Engagement Lead on outreach@hersana.org or call us on 0333 016 9610.
GPs, social workers, mental health workers or other professionals can refer clients for services through our online referral form.
All of our services and projects aim to empower, support and educate. We work tirelessly to end violence against women and girls in all its forms – and with that in mind, we have designed a range of services that truly reflects our core values.
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