At Oasis, our core aim is to help survivors rebuild their lives after abuse. The road to recovery can be long but through support and our holistic approach, those that come to our refuge are able to move on to lead a positive new chapter in their lives. Here’s Hazan’s* story.
Hazan* moved into the refuge after experiencing two years of physical abuse and controlling behaviour from her partner. Hazan was not allowed to go out alone or talk to her friends or family. She was found at two previous refuges through online banking. During her stay at the refuge, Hazan attended the support group, celebrating festivals and taking day trips as well as taking adult education courses in IT, maths and English. She has also been able to attend to her physical health now that she is away from an abusive relationship and able to attend physio appointments.
Just before lockdown hit in March, she had been offered a tenancy which was unable to progress as non-essential moves were stopped. We were so pleased that when moves were able to happen again, Hazan was in the forefront of their minds.
In order to prepare for the move, Hazan visited Necessary Furniture and chose a bed for her new home. Hazan also received a microwave, kettle and toaster from Oasis welfare fund and a fridge freezer has been donated. In order to help her manage the transition financially, Oasis paid Hazan’s first week’s rent. Her key worker helped her to organise the move, reconnecting gas and electricity, exploring council tax options and setting up direct debits for ongoing rent and service charge payments in the new property.
After the move, Hazan’s keyworker said “She has completely immersed herself in the community, training and settling into her flat and is now looking to get into work. She is so much more confident now; the language barrier isn’t very significant anymore and she feels more confident socially. She is all sorts of beautiful and awesome.”
Oasis provide safe havens in Thanet and Dover for women and children who are in danger. Last year we supported 56 women and 60 children in our refuges, every single one of them came to us because it was not safe for them to remain at home. The women have suffered for an average of 4 and a half years before accessing support and so for many of the children, a life of fear is all they have ever known. Initially there will be a huge sense of relief –‘ we are finally safe’. But although coming to refuge is a huge and decisive step it is also the beginning of another journey. The road to recovery can be long and hard. We are so thankful for donations from our community which mean we can give Hazan and all of the women we support the absolute basics for moving into a new home.
If you’d like to support the vital work we do, there are many ways to give, including a monthly donation.
*Not her real name
Get support
Call our helpline on 0800 917 9948 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 09:30–11:30am, 12:30–2:30pm
Thursday and Friday 09:30–11:30am, except bank holidays) or email helpline@oasisdaservice.org (if it’s safe to do so)
If you or your family are in immediate danger please call the police on 999 (if you can’t speak, cough or tap the handset then press 55 on your phone – the police will know it’s an emergency)
In a non-emergency situation, you can call Kent Police on 101.
*All images used on this website are representative. All names are anonymised for people’s safety.