Sojourner Project
What is the Sojourner Project?
The Sojourner Project is a pilot scheme run by Eaves and funded by the Home Office. The scheme, operational from Monday 30 November 2009, has now been extended until 30 March 2011. Eaves are working in partnership with a range of other voluntary providers to co-ordinate support, accommodation and subsistence for women and their dependents throughout the country.
The Sojourner Project is for women with no recourse to public funds, who entered the UK on a spousal or partner visa and are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the Domestic Violence Rule.
How can I access the Service and what is the Process?
Anyone can make referrals to the Sojourner Project.
Initial referrals can be made by calling the Sojourner Project Duty Worker on 020 7840 7147. Once information on the referral’s suitability has passed initial assessment, the woman will be admitted onto the first stage of the pilot. At this stage the referrer will be asked to complete a formal referral form and e-mail a copy to the Sojourner Project Duty Worker on sojourner@eaveshousing.co.uk
Accommodation and subsistence will be arranged as appropriate in Eaves' or alternative accommodation. Eaves can provide or fund accommodation and support while ILR applications are submitted and processed.
The Sojourner Duty Worker will forward the completed referral form to the UK Border Agency, who will verify the referral’s eligibility to enter the second stage of the pilot.
Once the Sojourner Project Duty Worker has received the eligibility decision, they will inform the support provider and service user. Confirmation of eligibility for the second stage of the pilot will be completed within 5 days.
Please note: referrals will only be eligible to access the pilot if they were previously admitted to, or granted an extension in the UK as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner, and are able to qualify for ILR under the Domestic Violence Rule. You can request a fact sheet on the Domestic Violence Rule from the Sojourner Duty Worker.
If the UK Border Agency determines a referral to be ineligible, they will not be able to access Home Office funding through this scheme.
If the UK Border Agency determines a referral to be eligible, the woman can remain in funded accommodation for the next stage of the project. This stage lasts 4 weeks, during which it is necessary for the service user to receive independent legal advice from a qualified person and to submit an application for ILR under the Domestic Violence Rule.
Once an ILR application is received and confirmed by the UK Border Agency the support provider will be will be eligible to a maximum of 4 weeks funding, whilst waiting for a decision from the UK Border Agency on the ILR application.
A woman is only eligible for a maximum of 8 weeks funding under the pilot. Once a decision, whether positive or negative has been made, the funding will cease.
Those who receive positive ILR decisions will have access to public funds.
For negative ILR decisions the support provider will have to make a decision on whether they will be able to continue providing support, and what the resettlement options are.
If you would like a referral pack please contact the Sojourner Duty Worker on sojourner@eaveshousing.co.uk
A refuge is a safe house where women and children who are experiencing domestic violence can stay free from abuse. There are also some refuges across the country that is for men who are fleeing abuse. Refuge addresses (and sometimes telephone numbers) are confidential. There are over 500 refuge and support services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Oxfordshire refuge covers three areas of the County, North, South and Centre. The Oxfordshire refuge is unlikely to accept women from their immediate local area as this is usually where they are most at risk and therefore are likely to have to go to another area in the County or to another County. Any refuge accepting a woman would have to be a 'safe' distance away from any areas where her abuser has connections. Some refuges have space for many women and children, and some are small houses. Some refuges are specifically for women from particular ethnic or cultural backgrounds (for example, Black, Asian or South American women). Many refuges have disabled access and staff and volunteers who can assist women and children who have special needs. If you have children, you can take them with you however there are restrictions on young boys over the age of 16, an in some areas, 14. There are some refuges that have self-contained family units but most refuges will usually give you your own room for yourself to share with your children. Other spaces (the living room, TV room, kitchen, playroom and possibly the bathroom) will be shared with other refuge residents.A license agreement will need to be signed which will include the terms under which you can stay in the refuge, how long you can stay and any necessary rules to ensure the safety of yourself and other residents (for example, regarding the use of alcohol or drugs, confidentiality, visitors, etc.). Refuges also have their own codes of conduct regarding the day-to-day running of the house. These usually cover things like bedtimes for children, incoming telephone calls and rotas for using the washing machine. You will usually be able to stay as long as you need to - from a couple of days to several months - though some refuges have a maximum length of stay. Many women stay in refuges for a break from the violence, a breathing space with time to think away from danger. Some women decide to return to their partners. Who can go into a refuge?Any woman or man who needs to escape from domestic violence or abuse can go into a refuge at any time. It does not matter whether or not you are married to or living with your abuser, or whether or not you have children. How do I arrange refuge accommodation? You can call the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline or the National 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247, both will find a refuge space for you if you want this. Many refuge organisations have public contact numbers, and if you want you can contact these yourself (see the Women's Aid National Network A-Z of refuges. You can also contact refuge organisations through the Police, the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (UK) or 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), social services or the Citizens Advice Bureau. You should be able to go into a refuge on the day that you call. You can't usually book accommodation in advance, nor will you always be able to find refuge space in the location of your choice. When refuge accommodation has been found for you, a member of staff or a volunteer from the organisation will discuss with you how you can get there. They may arrange to meet you at their office or somewhere else which is easy to find. If they do give you the address and the location of the refuge, it is important that you keep this information to yourself, and that you take care not to leave any of this information behind (thus enabling your location, or the address or telephone number of the refuge, to be traced). What can I take with me to the refuge? As a guide, try to take the following with you to the refuge: Identification.Birth certificates for you and your children.School and medical records, including the telephone numbers of the school and your GP or surgery.Money, bankbooks, cheque book and credit and debit cards.Keys for your house, car, and workplace.Driving licence (if you have one) and car registration documents, if applicable.Prescribed medication, and vitamin supplements.Cards or payment books for Child Benefit and any other welfare benefits you are entitled toPassports (including passports for all your children if you have them), visas and work permitsCopies of documents relating to your housing tenure, (for example, mortgage details or lease and rental agreements).Current unpaid bills.Insurance documents.Address book.Family photographs, your diary, jewellery, small items of sentimental value.Clothing and toiletries for you and your children.Your children's favourite small toys. .
Not all women will need all of these items, and there may be some items that you would need to take that have not been included in this list, but this is a general guide. What can't I take with me to a refuge? Most refuges do not have a large amount of storage space, so you are unlikely to be able to take large items such as furniture with you to the refuge. Also, refuges cannot generally take house pets. Some refuges are equipped to accommodate small animals such as fish, mice and other caged pets. Additionally, some refuge organisations have arrangements with local pet fostering schemes. For more information see our page on pet refuge. If I leave a refuge, can I go back? Yes, in most cases. If you choose to leave the refuge but later need safe accommodation again, you and your children will be able to go back, either into the same or another refuge, depending on space and availability at the time you need it. If you were asked to leave a refuge because you broke the terms of the license agreement, it may not be possible for you to return to the same house. You may be referred to refuge accommodation elsewhere, or another safe place will be found for you. What about my permanent housing situation? You can return home from the refuge at any point. You may decide to return with an injunction. You may decide you want to be re-housed elsewhere. The choice is yours, and refuge workers will give you information about the various options in order to help you to decide what you want to do. They will also help you to get advice regarding joint property and mortgage agreements. Do not agree to sign any documents relating to the tenancy or ownership of your home until you have taken legal advice. Look at the section on housing for additional information on long-term housing options.The Oxfordshire Domestic Violence Advisor service was established in January 2008 and has the leading role, on behalf of the Oxfordshire Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC), to work with victims at high risk and coordinate safety plans around them. The Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) are trained specialists whose goal is the safety of survivors of domestic violence, ultimately to help them and their children move safely towards living violence free lives.The IDVA service works with clients of both sexes who have been identified as high risk and referred from a Multi agency risk assessment conference (MARAC).The support is intended to be a short/medium term service in place to reduce the risk of further domestic violence and the emotional effects caused by it.A risk assessment needs to be carried out so we can form an appropriate safety plan. IDVAs can assist with issues arising as a result of domestic abuse, such as support through the court process and advocacy with housing issues.IDVAs are independent from all agencies to ensure the best possible support and advice is offered to each survivor. All clients are treated with respect, dignity and sensitivity. IDVAs respect the diversity of all communities and work to ensure all survivors have access to the services they need.FoIn order to provide the best possible help they may need to share information with other agencies, but this is only on a need to know basis to achieve the best outcome for you.For more information and to book a place on a group please contact the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 731 0055
