Date published: 18 February 2025
A women’s refuge, ran by leading housing association Stonewater, has been gifted garden equipment by a children’s charity.
A new cabin, furniture and resources donated by the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children will help improve the opportunities and wellbeing of customers at the South Hampshire Women’s Refuge.
The refuge is one of many localised services run by Stonewater, which offers safe accommodation and support to women and children escaping domestic abuse.
Children living there already benefit from a Bright Space run by the charity – a play environment that helps children in crisis build caring relationships, heal from trauma and experience happiness.
The Foundation’s donation will give families more outdoor space for play and therapeutic activities.
Dina Delic, Project Coordinator at South Hampshire Women’s Refuge, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Bright Horizons Foundation, which arranged for their contractors, Linaker, to install the cabin.
“This will not only provide practical benefits but will also stand as a lasting reminder of the kindness and generosity that are so vital to places like ours.”
Tracy Wilkes-Green, Bright Space Manager at the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, said: “We are delighted to extend our support to South Hampshire Women’s Refuge in this way, and hope that the new resources and outdoor space will be enjoyed by children and families.”
Nicola Lambe, Head of Specialist Services at Stonewater, added: “Stonewater has more than 20 years’ experience delivering refuge, safe accommodation and community based domestic abuse services across the country.
“These services all play a vital role in their communities, and we are delighted that Bright Horizons have chosen to support survivors at our service in South Hampshire.”
To find out more about the refuges and safe spaces run by Stonewater, go to https://www.stonewater.org/customers/get-support/domestic-abuse/our-refuges-and-safe-spaces/.