The Women in Safer Engagement and Recovery (WiSER) project is a partnership of specialist VAWG charities working to support women who are currently experiencing gender-based violence and abuse alongside other complex needs and multiple disadvantages. The service works with women who are frequently excluded from mainstream services and/or find it hard to engage with the support as it is conventionally offered.

A flexible, psychologically-informed and strengths-based care is offered on a long-term basis which includes 1:1 advocacy, outreach, and emotional and practical support for women and girls aged 16+. 

The service works responsively, based on their individual needs, to:

• Engage with other specialist support services
• Communicate with and access statutory support
• Access benefits or other means of safe financial independence
• Engage with physical and mental health services
• Safety plan for multiple areas of their lives
• Understand harm reduction principles with substance use
• Access safe housing
• Understand healthy relationships
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Engage in wellbeing and community activities
• Access work, education, and training

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

• Identify as woman or non-binary
• Aged 16 or over
• Living in one of the following London boroughs:  
  • Barnet, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest
• Currently experiencing any form of VAWG (violence against women and girls) within the past 3 months (see referral form for further details)
• Multiple disadvantages must include at least four of these on referral:
  • Problematic substance use
  • Significant mental ill health
  • Significant physical ill health
  • Affected by or at risk of prostitution or sexual exploitation
  • History of offending behaviour
  • Homelessness/ insecure housing
  • History of children being removed from her care and/or at risk of further removals
  • Insecure or uncertain immigration status

How to Refer