We are pleased to announce the launch of Revive Scotland! Women experiencing domestic abuse in Scotland will be able to access our new support service to help them find suitable and safe housing in a new area.
We have partnered with Wheatley Group, Scotland’s leading housing, care and property-management group, to offer this lifeline support for the first time.
In Scotland, there were nearly 63,000 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by police last year. Every year nearly 130,000 people in Scotland experience domestic abuse, with more than 9000 people at risk of being murdered or seriously harmed by a partner or ex-partner.
Our Revive project has been running in England since 2018 and, in two years, has helped over 120 domestic abuse survivors who were homeless or threatened with homelessness to find a new home. Andrea Williams, Revive Scotland Project Coordinator, said:
“We are building on the success achieved by Revive in England. Our goal is to provide a holistic approach to support women experiencing domestic abuse. Through Revive Scotland, we want to give choice to those women who decide they would like to move out of their current area.”
“We will work directly with the women and their families to provide a tailored wraparound support. And liaise with all agencies involved to ensure further support is provided, to ensure a smooth transition to a new home and that the tenancy is sustained. We have contacted several local authority areas, housing associations and domestic Abuse organisations, and the support we received so far have been overwhelmingly positive.”
Escaping economic abuse during Covid-19 lockdown – the story of an abused former NHS nurse
A retired NHS nurse who had been suffering financial exploitation from her family approached Homefinder UK’s Revive service for support during England’s first national lockdown. The retiree had to sell her property to avoid repossession. She stayed where she could, paid for hotels, B&Bs and slept in her car for 2 years. By the time she approached Homefinder UK, she had sold her car to pay off other debts and was sleeping on her son’s balcony. When her son and his partner demanded more money from the nurse and she had none to give, they took her gold necklace.
Despite the fact that all social housing lettings were on hold due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Revive team reached out to their partner housing associations across the country and was able to secure a home in the South of England, not too far from her grandchildren. The retired nurse moved just seven days after the initial call for help.
“I have been in the property for two days, but my life and my mental health has already dramatically improved. It seems that once Homefinder UK knows about your situation, they activate a plan and apply it vigorously to ensure they find you a home as soon as possible” says the survivor, a former neonatal nurse with 30 years’ experience.
How to access Revive Scotland
If you are a victim/survivor of domestic abuse and are currently homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless; and are looking to see if Revive Scotland could help support you move out of your current area, we can help.
Contact Revive Scotland at [email protected]. Or go to the Revive Scotland page and fill out the form to find out if you are eligible to use Revive Scotland service to relocate to an area of your choice.
