Your Voice Counts: the experiences of women living in Sheffield's domestic abuse refuges

Healthwatch Sheffield speak to a wide range of people living in the city about their experiences of accessing health and social care, and what would help to improve their health and wellbeing. 

Sheffield Women's Aid invited them to visit their refuges and speak to women living there about the specific challenges they face. The charity felt there were limited opportunities for women who have experienced and survived domestic and sexual abuse and violence to share their stories and draw attention to their needs.

What did women say?

Many women described facing complex physical and mental health challenges, some of which stemmed directly from the abuse they've experienced.  Some have young children with additional needs too.

Most had fled domestic abuse with no or little money and other resources, and have moved to a new area away from their home and social networks.

All of these factors make navigating care and support more difficult for a variety of reasons. Women told Healthwatch Sheffield about challenges involving:

• Understanding what support is available
• Waiting lists
• Caring responsibilities
• Finance
• Travel
• Interpreters
• Housing
• Stigma

Your voice counts

Healthwatch Sheffield are taking a proactive approach to share this feedback with key decision makers and providers of health and social care in Sheffield. They are also ensuring it feeds into strategies and plans relating to women's health and women's services in the city and across South Yorkshire.