On the brink of homelessness, Violet found Liberty House.

After finding the courage to flee her abusive partner, Violet found out that she was pregnant. Having secured a privately rented flat, she was felt she was safe, but soon after, she was served with 28 days’ notice to leave the property as her landlord had been notified that it was too small for human habitation.

Violet, who was 20 years old at the time and 7 weeks pregnant, became overwhelmed by the barriers of accessing support from her local council and found herself on the brink of being street homeless. After learning about Rising Sun through a friend, Violet made a self-referral and within two weeks she had moved into Liberty House, our specialist accommodation for young women.

Violet engaged immediately with our wrap around services, receiving support with finances, benefits, housing applications and nutrition and with accessing further education and valuable antenatal and postnatal groups. As well as practical support she attended our therapeutically informed group programmes, covering the dynamics of domestic abuse, safety planning and healthy relationships and boundaries. She always attended her bi-weekly key working meetings, enabling us to identify her needs and tailor her support.

Once the baby was born, Violet attended 1:1 baby massage sessions, which have proven links to infant/parent bonding, Paediatric First Aid and the tailored Young Parent Baby Group run at our local children’s centre.

The relationships between the Rising Sun team and residents are absolutely vital to the support they receive. Through our dedicated, friendly and non-judgmental approach, we were able to support Violet to access her local GP, who diagnosed the baby with lactose intolerance. Taking a needs led approach to GR’s support has empowered her in her journey as a mother and shown that asking for help is sometimes the bravest thing anyone can do.

After the birth of her son, Violet’s perpetrator found out where she was living and so she needed to move on sooner than expected. The Liberty Team, including a Young Person’s  IDVA, created a safe exit plan and liaised with the council to have her housing prioritised due to the domestic abuse she’d experienced. The team supported Violet in securing a council property near her support network and financial grants to furnish the flat. Violet is now settled in independent living, in a safe home, surrounded by her loved ones, with all of the practical and parenting skills acquired through Rising Sun to thrive.

Upon leaving Liberty House, Violet shared: “It’s nice knowing someone is always downstairs to help you and give you the support you need. It is also very comforting when you share experiences with other people who went through the same thing. It’s not just you. Liberty House provided a safe and happy environment for both me and baby to heal and grow. I see it as a place that helps setting people up for a better future and supports you whilst you make the best possible decisions for you and your child.”