A WOMEN’S Refuge has had extensive building work and refurbishments carried out during lockdown and is due to reopen at the beginning of May.

Wear Valley Women’s Aid offers safe accommodation and support to women and children suffering domestic abuse, at the Refuge which is based in Bishop Auckland.

Each room has now been fitted with a bathroom and a kitchen so that each is self-contained. Prior to this there were shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

The layout has been altered so that two additional spaces have been created, there is a communal lounge, and the patio and garden are also being upgraded.

The entire house has been fully refurbished to a very high standard.

As well as support workers, the Refuge employs a counsellor and all clients are offered this service. A separate room has been adapted for counselling sessions.

The works were sympathetically carried out by Moffett and March, a respected building company based in Bishop Auckland.

Alison Hope from the Refuge said: “It made perfect sense to sell an unused part of our garden, to help finance the refurbishments. In addition to this, we raised funds over the past two years specifically for this project and decided that now would be a good time to make the changes.”

Fellow manager Paula Carling said: “Being able to provide our clients with their own space and privacy will promote general wellbeing especially for those with small children. Clients do also have the option of socialising in the lounge when they feel ready. We know from speaking to our residents over the years, that they would prefer self-contained accommodation."

Support, advice and guidance at the Refuge is tailored to clients’ specific individual needs, and during their stay women and families are also assisted to find alternative suitable accommodation to enable them to move back into the community.

Staff also have plans to adapt the basement into a fully-equipped disabled suite, with lowered work surfaces in the kitchen, a wet room and an access ramp. Financial donations are being sought to help bring this about, and this would be greatly appreciated.

To donate to Wear Valley Women’s Aid visit: https://www.justgiving.com/wear-valley-womans-aid

To speak to a member of Wear Valley Women’s Aid team, phone: Monday – Friday; 9am – 5pm 01388 600094

24-hour urgent support line: 07946 190203

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247