Lockdown places huge strain on Wolverhampton women's sanctuary
A Wolverhampton refuge for women has spoken of the challenge it has faced during the coronavirus lockdown – and the increased demand for its help.
Lotus Sanctuary CIC was only established in 2018 as a community interest company.
Based in Cleveland Street, it offers a lifeline to vulnerable women and children, not only acting as a safe space but also giving them the opportunity to turn their lives around.
It helps women suffering from a range of complex issues, from those fleeing abuse, addiction or mental health problems.
The imposition of lockdown has created real challenges, pushing many problems experienced in the home into an even more private arena and leaving victims alone and isolated.
During the last few months levels of domestic abuse cases reported to police have risen substantially, with more than 4,000 cases reported in the West Midlands in the first month of lockdown.
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West Midlands Police described it as a ‘hidden pandemic’. From March 23 to April 26 some 4,108 cases were recorded as ‘domestic violence’. Of those, in only three per cent of cases were cautions handed out, with most being dropped because victims refused to press charges.
People with mental health issues or a dependency on drink or drugs have also found less available help, with face-to-face counselling stopping overnight.
Marie Burrows, of Lotus Sanctuary, said staff have been aware of an increased need for somewhere for victims to find help.
She said: “There is a real need out there from people who continue to struggle.
“Following the spike in reports of domestic abuse during lockdown and with numbers anticipated to rise, it is even more imperative that long-term, sustainable support solutions exist.
“During Covid-19 we have experienced a four-fold increase in referrals. This increase is not limited to domestic violence referrals, we have also seen an increase in rough sleepers who have been housed in temporary accommodation that is now coming to the end.
"Lockdown has also negatively impacted the mental health of many of our residents, who initially felt more anxious and isolated. Our support staff have gone above and beyond to make sure that our women and their families have been as supported as possible during this period.
“The clinical lead of our NHS-funded trauma therapy service can attest to the mental strain currently not just on our residents but also the wider public.”
The idea behind Lotus was born out of the true story of a woman in Wolverhampton who was homeless and in hospital undergoing a medical detox from alcohol. Her only options were either a women’s refuge, which would only house her once she was six weeks clean and sober, or a male-dominated hostel.
This led to the creation of Lotus Sanctuary CIC, co-founded by Kim Bethell, a not for profit, supported housing group for vulnerable women. Lotus has so far enabled five homeless women to transition from supported housing on to their own independent accommodation, and currently has 23 adult and 14 child residents in its care.
Residents come from a range of backgrounds that share common threads, including but not limited to trauma, addiction, mental health issues and domestic violence.
The story of one 41-year-old woman, given the named Jane to protect her anonymity, is not unusual.
Jane became a Lotus resident in 2019 following a five-month stay in hospital due to heart valve failure, among a host of other issues. She was sleeping rough in a tent in the Wolverhampton on and off for two years before being admitted to hospital after the death of a former partner. Prior to this she was sofa surfing for around two years, never having lived independently her whole adult life, aged 40 years old.
After being discharged from hospital she was given a safe place to live by Lotus, allowing her to fully physically recover and continue addressing her drug dependency issues with the help of ongoing therapy, medication and a dedicated support worker.
After moving Jane into her new home one of Lotus's support workers devised an empowerment plan detailing her goals moving forward after her immediate issue of housing had been solved. She was also able to take part in therapeutic activities, from art to cooking and yoga, which has helped build her confidence.
Jane now speaks positively about the future and is optimistic about continuing along the road to health, free from drugs and alcohol. She expressed wanting to build and nurture her relationship with her eight children, which she has been doing since moving into her new home.
She said: “I will always be thankful for people at Lotus.
“They helped me when no-one else could and gave me a home where I can start to recover and rebuild my life.”
