A REFUGE for women who have suffered domestic abuse in Salisbury has opened its doors to the Journal to highlight the work it carries out.

Salisbury Women's Refuge is a safe place for women who have been victims of domestic abuse, and thanks to the facilities and support available residents based at the refuge are able to make a new life for themselves.

The refuge is made up of 12 bedrooms, a mixture of family and single-bed rooms, and a communal bathroom, kitchen and living space for the women.

As well as providing shelter, the refuge offers women the essentials to get back on their feet, administrative support including budgeting advice and education, rehabilitation programs and advice for women in need.

READ: Services caring for vulnerable increasing pressure on Wiltshire Council

Manager of the refuge, Sandra Horner, described the experience of moving to a refuge as a "minefield", adding: "It's so hard for ladies to come because they just leave everything.

"Communal living is not easy because you're suddenly thrust amongst people that in the outside world you might not even say hello to, because they just have completely different interests and values sets.

"And it's not just about coming somewhere to live, it's about coming to terms with something that has happened to you and that it is not your fault, which is a really big thing to some of these ladies."

Sandra defines her job as an "enabler", adding: "This job is giving them [the women] the ability to help themselves more than helping them, it's just giving them back their self esteem and their self worth.

"They are already strong women but they have forgotten that, it's just reminding them of what they used to be."

The charity is primarily funded by Splitz Support Service, funded by Wiltshire Council, but as budget and staffing cuts continue by the year, the refuge also draws from community groups including churches, women's institutions and mother's unions for donations and support.

Financial donations from the public allow staff at the refuge to supply their residents with toiletries and food during their stay, as well as maintaining the conditions of the building, and in the past volunteers have led workshops for the ladies in cooking, yoga and arts and crafts.

The refuge also has connections with local shops to get resources for the women, including clothes and furniture.

Sandra added: "We do rely a lot on the goodness of our local community to be able to help these ladies. I've never known a place like it, Salisbury is amazing, it blows me away how generous people are.

"We're very careful that we don't give away the location of it [the refuge], but I don't mind people knowing that we are here and that we are grateful for any ways that people can help raise money for us."