Sanctuary Scheme
What is Sanctuary?
The Sanctuary Scheme provides additional safety and security measures to enable any victim of violence and abuse to either remain in the own home with a greater degree of safety and a reduction of risk, or to relocate and prevent further violence and abuse. The Sanctuary Scheme is not a means tested service and you can self refer or an agency that is working with you can refer you if you prefer. Extra security measures can include stronger locks, film for windows, alarms, fire alarms etc.
How do I access Sanctuary?
Providing you live, or will live in Sefton if you are being rehoused, and you have experienced domestic or sexual violence, and fear further violence and fear having to move to escape, you can access the Sanctuary Scheme.
The Sanctuary scheme can be accessed by contacting the Vulnerable Victim’s Advocates Team by completing the referral form at our Report Violence and Abuse page or telephoning the VVAT on 0151 934 5142.
What happens next?
The VVAT will then arrange for someone to come and see you and carry out a needs and risk assessment They will then discuss with you the identified risks and whether the Sanctuary Scheme can help you and minimise the risks. They will also discuss all all of your other needs and how these can be met, and safety plan with you. If at this stage the risks are too high then the advocate who visits you will discuss other options, including perhaps moving into safe temporary accommodation, or being rehoused.
If the risks can be managed, and Sanctuary could make you safer, then the advocate will then organise for a property survey to be conducted. The Community Safety Team, Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue service will conduct this survey. If they judge that your property can be made safer they will then agree to put in place the additional safety and security that is necessary to try and reduce the risks and keep you safer.
Then with your permission, and the permission of your landlord if you do not own your own property, they will arrange for the work to be carried out.
The advocate will support you throughout this process and will work with you for at least 12 months after the installation of Sanctuary.
Sanctuary and the support it brings can help you SAY NO TO FEAR.
