Our Services
Our services are available for young women who meet the following criteria:
Aged between 16 and 25 years
Disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape and/or other forms of sexual abuse, including exploitation through prostitution
Homeless, at risk of homelessness or in inappropriate accommodation
Vulnerable to the following: crime, sexual exploitation, drug/alcohol misuse, eating disorders, self-harm, other mental health problems
Ability to live semi-independently
Willingness to share accommodation if applicable
Willingness to accept support and work with project staff on mutually identified issues
Accommodation
The Accommodation Project consists of five independent flats and one shared flat with 2 bedrooms all within the one building. One flat is fully adapted and accessible for women with disabilities. We have a further outreach flat a short distance away for young women who are more independent. All flats are fully furnished with all bedding, towels, TV, fully equipped kitchen provided.
Tenants are expected to be capable of semi-independent living and are responsible for heating, lighting and council tax payments. SAY Women offers short term agreements for a period of up to 18 months; tenancies are renewed every 6 months by mutual agreement of both parties.
We are committed to involving our users within the service and monthly meetings are held where issues and information are exchanged between staff and tenants. Tenants also meet directly with members of the Board.
Support
The support offered is on the basis of assisting young women to prepare for a more independent lifestyle. Tenants are allocated a key worker who provides practical and emotional support through a care plan system which is agreed with the tenant. SAY Women staff include a designated keyworker who provides emotional 1:1 support. Practical support with life skills is also offered during the young women’s tenancy and during the resettlement process.
SAY Women staff are experienced in providing support to survivors of childhood sexual abuse and associated issues, and working within residential settings. During their stay tenants are able to look at the difficulties surrounding their childhood sexual abuse. Childhood sexual abuse often underpins many of the 'presenting' problems, and the ability to examine feelings around the trauma of their abuse assists in the process of gaining control over their lives and developing self-assurance and a sense of wellbeing.
Resettlement
Young women will begin to prepare for their move to their own tenancy or other more appropriate accommodation 1 year into their tenancy. The Key Workers will assess the young woman’s practical life skills, support them to develop their skills further and support to engage with partner agencies, including Housing.
The Key Workers will support the young women during the 6 week transition period moving from the Accommodation Project into their tenancy and will visit the young woman again 6 weeks late to ensure all practical supports are available and encourage further engagement where needed.
During this period the young women will be offered ongoing support at the Resource Service, with a focus on resettlement, but also providing support with ongoing issues, such as emotional / mental health difficulties, court proceedings and childcare issues where necessary.
Although this service is focussed on young women completing 18 months in their tenancy, support will also be available for young women who leave the Accommodation Project earlier.
Hours of Service:
Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 9.30pm
Plus a 24-hour on-call service for emergencies
“The staff don’t give up on me when life gets hard for me, even when I push staff away they are still there for me. And I like how we are encouraged to be independent.”
Resource Service
Our Resource Workers are committed and enthusiastic about their work and have the knowledge and experience to support you during your involvement with the service. The staff are based in our Bell Street offices which are welcoming and comfortable. There is a security buzzer entry system and there are other organisations based in the building so it will not be obvious who you are coming to see.
When you first meet a Resource Worker, you can discuss your needs and what you are looking for. The support we offer can range from one meeting to support over a period of time, depending on what you need and how you feel. We aim to make the support as flexible as possible to allow you to access it at a pace that suits you.
If you are initially unsure if you want to talk, the Resource Worker will be happy to explain more about the support on offer so YOU can decide whether it sounds right for you. If you wish to use the service, we will arrange to see you as soon as possible. At busy times we operate a waiting list, but we also have a Crisis Response process that can provide you with tools and techniques to practice while you wait. You will also then be able to link into our drop-in, so you will never be left without access to services. The support of the Resource Service is mainly emotional, but it also links into SAY Group Work Programmes, events and activities, and we will help you to access additional practical support if you need it.
Hours of Service:
Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 9.30pm
On-call support is available for young women in crisis
“When I first started I didn’t want to do any of the group work as I was really nervous, but now I have come out of my shell and the groups have given me more confidence.”
Tenancy Sustainment for Survivors (TS4S) Project
Tenancy Sustainment for Survivors (TS4S) is an innovative partnership project developed by SAY Women initially with Renfrewshire Council that supports young women (16-25 years old) who have been subjected to Child Sexual Abuse, rape, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The project aims to prevent the connected cycles of abuse and homelessness that young women can repeatedly experience.
When you meet with TS4S Project Worker, we will introduce the service to you and discuss your needs and circumstances. This short-term support is tailored to your needs and focuses on establishing safety, building your resilience (including coping strategies and resources) while helping you to understand the impact of abuse and trauma on your daily life and sustaining a tenancy. TS4S service works in partnership with identified Local Authority housing and homelessness services and together we aim to pull together the local
wrap-around support services you need to assist you with maintaining your tenancy in the long term.
If you are about to get a new tenancy, you are struggling to maintain your tenancy, or are at risk of losing your tenancy and you are a survivor of sexual abuse, please get in touch. Sexual abuse includes rape, sexual assault, prostitution and other forms of Men’s Violence Against Women. Feel free to reach out if you would like more information and would like to discuss in more detail.
We currently have TS4S Partnership Projects in Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire.
Please contact our main office for TS4S enquiries:
0141 552 5803; enquiries@say-women.co.uk
Hours of Service:
Renfrewshire: Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5pm
North Lanarkshire: Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5pm
“I find you easy to talk to, you are not judging me but listening to what I am saying. I am realising that my past has had an effect on how I am just now, and I want to get better.”
Click here for the TS4S flyer and more information:
National Training for Professionals
We offer training to other agencies and individuals who come into contact with survivors of sexual violence, to enhance and improve the quality of services available.
For more details on our courses and how we can help you with your service to survivors, have a look at our National Training for Professionals page here: