Advocacy for Survivors of Domestic Abuse (360G-CFSurrey-A791103)
Funding Organisation
£7,000
Recipient Organisation
Funding toward a Domestic Abuse Refuge Advocate.
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Grant Details
| Award Date | 2026-06-30T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Last Modified | 2026-07-16T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Planned Dates: End Date | 2027-06-30T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Planned Dates: Duration (months) | 11 |
| Planned Dates: Start Date | 2026-07-01T00:00:00+00:00 |
| Primary issue | Domestic violence |
| Amount Awarded | 7000 |
| Grant Programme: Code | 2026/27 MR1 |
| Grant Programme: Title | Donor Funds |
| Impact Category | Advance people's physical and mental health, wellbeing and safety |
| Amount Applied For | 7000 |
| Primary age group | Adults (26 – 65) |
| Primary beneficiary | Victims of crime/violence/abuse |
| Beneficiary Location: Name | Reigate and Banstead 012D |
| Beneficiary Location: Geographic Code | E01030620 |
| Beneficiary Location: Country Code | GB |
| Beneficiary Location: Geographic Code Type | LSOA |
| Recipient Org: Web Address | http://www.ichoosefreedom.co.uk |
| Recipient Org: Description | I Choose Freedom is an independent charity that provides refuge and a path to freedom to 39 survivors and up to 65 children fleeing domestic abuse at one time. Survivors in our care are the highest risk, they are at risk of murder if they were to remain in the family home. We have 3 communal refuges for women and their children and 9 self-contained refuges for any survivor of domestic abuse across East and West Surrey. We are the only refuge in Surrey that is fully accessible to anyone needing a refuge space, including across communities who face additional barriers, such as male survivors, LGBTQ+ survivors and survivors from Gypsy Roma traveller communities. We are also one of the few refuges who accept teenage boys and survivors with no recourse to public funds and unstable immigration status. In the year April 2023 – March 2024 I Choose Freedom supported 114 survivors and 155 children. NEW as of 2026/27 MR1 I Choose Freedom is an independent charity that provides refuge and a path to freedom for up to 39 survivors and 65 children fleeing domestic abuse at one time. We have 3 communal refuges for women and their children and 9 self-contained ‘Refuge for All’ units, accessible to any survivor including men, LGBTQ+ survivors or anyone with additional barriers to communal living. Operating across East and West Surrey, we are the only refuge in the county that is fully accessible to anyone needing a refuge space and one of the few refuges across England who accept teenage boys and survivors with no recourse to public funds and unstable immigration status. Each year we support around 250 adult, child and young survivors. Simply put, refuges save lives. Survivors are homeless at the point of entry to refuge, with some having experienced street homelessness prior to arrival. Our survivors are those at highest risk, often having been assessed as at risk of domestic homicide if they were to remain in their homes. We take a needs-led tailored approach to supporting each survivor with a focus on building confidence and empowering them as they rebuild their lives. Each adult survivor has a Domestic Abuse Refuge Advocate (DARA) while our Children’s Advocates support children and young people. The outcomes of our work are as individual as the survivors we support, however we aim to empower all survivors to leave refuge after 6-8 months with increased confidence and self-esteem, improved understanding of domestic abuse, knowledge that what they were subjected to was not their fault and improved sense of wellbeing and safety. Additionally, our team work hard to ensure refuges are more than just a roof over people’s heads, they are also homes where survivors feel safe and cared for. This includes the provision of tailored welcome packs on arrival with essential items that survivors can use in refuge and take with them when they leave, such as bedding, towels, useful kitchen items for cooking, safe mobile phone, toiletries and age-appropriate toys for children. In each communal refuge we also have small banks of donated items for women to access such as our clothing ‘boutique’ and library nook which includes books, board games and puzzles. Our DARAs organise celebrations for birthdays, religious festivals and other events, which build a strong sense of community and can be particularly meaningful for families who have never been allowed to celebrate before. We consistently see excellent outcomes from our work. Over the last year: 81% of adult survivors reported improved mental health. 96% said they felt more confident and empowered. 93% of those for whom it was an applicable outcome reported improved ability to manage finances. 91% of those for whom it was applicable reported improved confidence in their parenting. 89% reported improved employment prospects. |
| Recipient Org: Charity Number | 289508 |
| Recipient Org: Company Number | 01806055 |