Iceni offers shelter to women fleeing violence in Norwich area
Posted: Jun 22, 2009
A new purpose-built refuge which is specially designed for women and children who are forced to flee from domestic violence in Norfolk has opened its doors in the Norwich area.
The £1.7 million development replaces an older-style hostel in the city and is now offering a safe haven for up to 12 women and their children escaping violent relationships and other domestic crises.
The refuge has been developed by leading East of England developer Iceni Homes for Cotman Housing Association to create a high quality refuge made up of 12 self-contained, fully furnished flats so that each woman and her children can live safely and independently whilst they begin to re-build their lives.
Working in partnership with Cotman, Norwich City Council, contractor Lovell Partnership and architect Chaplin Farrant, Iceni Homes has developed the site using the latest eco-friendly technologies to keep heating and energy costs low.
The building includes state-of-the-art security systems to protect the families and a range of communal accommodation suitable for interviews, support and counseling and other services.
Cotman received £346k from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) with Cotman, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council funding the remaining balance.
Refuge Services Manager Chris, of Leeway Women’s Aid, Norfolk’s leading charity specialising in domestic violence who have been commissioned to deliver the service at the new refuge, said the standard of accommodation is exceptional: ” Women in this new refuge have their own space and their own front door. The children have a play room and a grass garden for safe playing as the whole ethos is to encourage these families to feel safe in their new environment.
"Many of them may have fled with virtually nothing but what they arrive with. The facilities are really outstanding and they provide the best possible way for many of these families to gradually come to terms with what has happened and to begin to build their lives again."
Wayne Tatlow, Cotman’s Housing Services Director said “We are very pleased that this partnership has enabled us to provide innovative, high quality accommodation for women who are fleeing domestic abuse, so that they can live in a safe and secure environment while they receive support to enable them to rebuild their lives.”
Mike Goodson, Managing Director of Iceni Homes said: “ A great deal of careful thought and strong partnership working has gone into developing a building which will be of real help to struggling families whose lives have been turned upside down by domestic violence and abuse.
“With our new partnership with Hundred Houses, Iceni has increased its capacity to deliver these kinds of vital services to communities across an even broader geographical area of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
“Iceni Homes has an outstanding track record for delivering tailor-made new developments for specific social need and for specified client groups – and we are proud of the Norfolk refuge which we hope will bring the opportunity for new lives for so many women and young children in real need of a fresh start.”
Norwich City Councillor Brian Morrey adds: "It is essential that families faced with the trauma of domestic violence are provided with the support to be able to re-build their lives. The new refuge is built to an incredibly high environmental standard providing the families with an excellent quality home while using innovative technologies to ensure we meet our commitment to provide sustainable homes.
We congratulate our partners in what has been achieved through this joint, concerted, effort".
With a programme totaling £18 million in 2008, Iceni Homes, is now the development arm of Colne Housing Society in Colchester, Suffolk Housing Society in Bury St Edmunds and Hundred Houses in Cambridgeshire, and is ahead of its target, despite the economic downturn.
Iceni Homes’ rapid growth in recent years mean it is now set to deliver some 300 affordable homes every year over the next few years across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
