Who We support
At SAY Women, we support young women aged 16–25 who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or sexual violence. Many of the young women we work with are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
We provide holistic support that focuses on safety, healing, and growth — working alongside each young woman to help her recover from trauma and build a positive, fulfilling future.
How we can Support you
Safe Accommodation
We provide safe, welcoming places to live where you can feel secure and begin to rebuild stability. Our accommodation is more than just housing — it’s a supportive environment where you can take time to breathe, recover, and plan your next steps.
One-to-One Support
You’ll have a dedicated support worker who will listen without judgement and help you work through whatever is going on in your life. This might include practical support with housing, education, or finances, as well as emotional support when things feel overwhelming.
Practical and Emotional Support
Many of the young women we support have experienced trauma. We offer emotional and practical support to help you understand your experiences, build coping strategies, and feel more in control of your life. This can include advocacy and support when managing your health care or navigating the criminal justice system.
“Thank you for everything you're doing for me. You made me feel seen and heard today. I haven't felt that in a long time, so thank you xx “- Amy
Building Independence and Future Goals
Our focus is on helping you move towards the future you want. That might include developing life skills, accessing education or employment, managing a tenancy, or building confidence and independence.
Support That Continues
We don’t just disappear when things start improving. We continue to support you as you move forward, helping you maintain stability and confidence in your independence.
You Deserve Support
Reaching out can feel difficult, but you don’t have to do things alone. We’re here to listen, to support, and to walk alongside you while you figure out what comes next.
Education and Community
Connecting with others who understand can make a huge difference. We offer group programmes and activities where you can build confidence, learn new skills, and develop supportive friendships in a safe space.
FAQs
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We try to operate without a waiting list for most of our support services. Once you reach out to SAY Women, we aim to contact you within a few days to arrange an appointment. This gives us a chance to meet, chat about what’s going on for you, and explore the support you might need.
We do have a waiting list for our semi-supported accommodation, as spaces are limited. However, you don’t need to wait for housing to become available to receive help. We can still offer support, advice, and regular contact while you are on the accommodation waiting list.
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If you have a support worker, family member or friend you would like to bring with you let us know. It should be no problem. However, we do ask that any support you bring is a woman.
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SAY is currently a cis women’s only space but we are undergoing training and development to expand our services in the future, while keeping cis women only spaces for those who wish them. Inclusion is important to us.
If you are a trans woman in need of support please reach out and we will help you find the right support.
In the meantime, the resources below may help.
Galop is the UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, supporting LGBT+ people who’ve experienced violence and abuse.
LGBT Youth Scotland is the national charity for LGBT young people, working with 13–25 year olds across the country.
LGBT Health & Wellbeing works to improve the health, wellbeing and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland.
The Equality Network is a leading national charity working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights in Scotland
Scottish Trans Alliance is the Equality Network project to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland
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Yes. What you share with us is confidential, and we will respect your privacy. We want you to feel safe to talk openly about what’s going on for you.
The only time we may need to share information is if we are worried that you — or someone else — is at risk of serious or immediate harm. If this happens, we would always aim to talk with you first and explain what support we think is needed. This may include contacting emergency services or other professionals to help keep you safe.
Our priority is always your safety and wellbeing, and wherever possible we will involve you in any decisions about sharing information.
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No — you are in control of what you share and when. You never need to tell us everything if you don’t want to. We believe you and want you to feel safe to open up at your own pace.
Some people feel ready to share a lot straight away, and others prefer to take things slowly — both are completely okay. We’re here to listen, support, and work alongside you, without any pressure.
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Please reach out and we can arrange a translator to help you access our services.