Leeway, a shelter from domestic abuse
Domestic Violence Helpline Call 0845 241 2171 Now
Leeway’s Services
Our drop in centres, outreach, parenting, children’s and advocacy services are free of charge to access.
Leeway and many other services are here to offer the support and advice you may need in order to stop living in fear and to be able to take the control back of your life. Everyone has the right to live without violence and fear, this includes you.
We are a voluntary, non-profit making organisation and a registered charity based in Norfolk. Since 1974 we have been providing specialist support and advice to women and children who have experienced or are still experiencing Domestic Abuse. Click here to read our history, aims and the services we offer.
Leeway is affiliated to the Women’s Aid Federation England (WAFE). Women’s Aid is the key agency in the UK for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. WAFE is the national organisation which supports and resources the English network of around 500 refugee projects. There are also national federations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Women’s Aid
We offer non judgemental support face to face in a safe environment or by regular phone contact - 0845 2412171. This Outreach service provides support to women who are still in an abusive relationship or have recently left. It is available regardless of where a woman lives or her financial income. This service is designed to help women make choices about their situation, how to stay safe and to provide support for them whatever they decide. Our outreach workers meet with the women in safe environments which can be their home or neutral places if the home isn’t safe. We provide advice, emotional and practical support on issues including financial, legal, housing, welfare and safety.
We run a telephone helpline 0845 2412171 - between the hours of 9am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 11am - 4pm Saturday and Sundays. Plus an emergency on call mobile.
We have a skilled worker to receive calls, give advice and make referrals to other Leeway services or external agencies. Leeway does not have the service provision to enable work with men suffering domestic abuse, however we are able to make referrals to those agencies and services that can offer support.
We offer drop in centres for women in safe accessible places around Norfolk - please call 0845 241 2171 for locations, dates and times.
We offer emergency accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic abuse - This includes 24 hour emergency referrals and admissions:
Our refuges offer short term emergency accommodation, advice and support to both single women and mothers bringing their children. They provide either secure and friendly environments to live in until the women can be appropriately re-housed or simply a safe space where they can escape from their situation for a few days in order to think through their options. All our residents are allocated a key worker who can support with issues ranging from housing, benefits, schooling, safety planning and solicitors.
Our refuges additionally have extensive links with local agencies in both health and education.
A small rent charge will apply, however the majority of women may be entitled to receive housing benefits which will help to cover this.
Help with setting up a new home and support with integration into a new community - Our Outreach Support workers offer emotional and practical support to any woman who is at risk of homelessness as a result of domestic abuse. We help women and children settle into their new homes and communities, provide support with benefits and grants, budgeting and debts, legal issues and liaise with local agencies.
Advocacy Service - We offer one to one advice and emotional support to women, where the perpetrator is being prosecuted through the Criminal Justice System. This includes safety planning, arranging pre-trial court visits, and updating the victim with bail conditions/results and signposting for further support. The advocacy worker is the single point of contact for the victim and will liaise with the police and CPS on her behalf to organise statements, photographs etc. A telephone advice line is also provided to those women not wishing to access the full service.
Children’s Services - We offer a range of services for children and young people who have been/are victims or have witnessed domestic abuse within their homes and families. We have dedicated children's workers within our refuges and working in the community to offer children emotional support. In the refuges we offer various activities and house meetings and within the community our outreach service provides individual support to children at home and/or in school. All children’s workers liaise closely with schools and take on the legal responsibility for child protection issues.
An OFSTED registered playgroup within our refuge - runs for 2 and a half hours a day, open to children staying in the refuges aged between 2 and 8 years.
Parenting Support - We have a parenting worker within the outreach team in Great Yarmouth who provides support to mothers to help them to deal with parenting issues associated with their experiences of domestic abuse. We recognise that parenting children who have experienced domestic abuse can be a difficult process and understand the importance of the parenting role during this period. We offer support to mothers around understanding their children’s experiences, dealing with their children’s behaviour which may result from their experiences and understanding how their own experiences have impacted on their parenting capacity.
Leeway also runs multi and single agency training on domestic abuse, which has been developed in partnership with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership in Norfolk.
Corporate, Agency, Charity Training:
Leeway can provide domestic abuse training to your staff and organisation according to your needs and time frames. Email enquiry link
Our training has been developed in partnership with the Crime and Disorder Reduction partnership in Norfolk and adapts a crime and disorder model to intervening in domestic abuse situations.
Volunteer Training
Leeway runs a volunteer training programme and organises volunteer training courses throughout the year. Email enquiry or Register Your Interest?