This case study recounts a woman’s transformative journey, a testament to the impact of our EAR initiative.
This case study recounts a woman’s transformative journey, a testament to the impact of our EAR initiative. Starting at a St Helens contingency hotel, her path led to accessing multiple RWC projects, demonstrating the crucial role of outreach while highlighting the importance of our dynamic partnerships. The narrative reflects the ongoing need for reevaluating services to ensure they remain tailored to the evolving needs of service users.
E, a young woman residing in a St Helens contingency hotel, initially felt isolated and unsupported. Our EAR project’s outreach efforts aimed at establishing a women’s group on-site led us to her. E’s determination led her to travel to Liverpool, where she accessed our main drop-in, seeking solace and support from “the only people who have talked to me here and listened to me.”
E faced challenges rooted in historic trauma and her UK situation. Our intervention involved prioritising her needs, and offering services she did not even know existed, referring her to local specialist services, and assisting with an S95 application and asylum information. The workshops offered a safe space for discussion, fostering an environment to address concerns such as grooming and exploitation. These efforts, supported by our EAR project, significantly contributed to our comprehensive casework.
Over the next few months, E, alongside other women, became a regular attendee at our St Helens hotel-based women’s group. Most had minimal contact with local services, emphasising the significance of our initial focus on addressing immediate needs, education on rights, and creating a safe space for dialogue.
As hotel conditions deteriorated, we decided to move our drop-in off-site with support from the local council. The shift to a nearby community centre amplified facilities and connectivity. The group thrived, facilitating engagement with other services and fostering positive relationships with the local community. Overcoming concerns of isolation, our inclusive approach encouraged attendance which is ever-increasing.
The move was accomplished with the local council’s financial support. We actively supported those women more reluctant to meet outside of the hotel by accompanying them to and from the meeting Despite these efforts, ongoing commitment is required to ensure no women are left behind. As for E, her journey led her to secure refugee status, relocate to Liverpool, and enrol in college. She continues to benefit from mental health services and we are supporting her family reunification applications so that her young son can join her.
E’s journey exemplifies the power of outreach, partnerships, and evolving services. Our EAR initiative not only provided critical assistance but also connected individuals to wider networks, enriching their lives.