Beauty for Ashes Refuges was set up in response to the plight of women and children fleeing domestic abuse who were being turned away from refuges due to their immigration status.

We envision a world free from domestic abuse ... but until then we want to ensure that all women fleeing domestic abuse, regardless of their immigration status, are able to access refuge provision.

We provide refuge in the North West of England for migrant women fleeing domestic violence, who due to the No Recourse to Public Funds Policy cannot access ‘normal refuge.’ 

Our Recourse to Refuge project will ensure that one of the most vulnerable groups in society, single women with insecure immigration status, have a safe place to go should they need to flee a domestic abuse relationship. 

Imagine living in a foreign country and your relationship breaks down due to domestic abuse. You make the brave decision to flee and seek safety in a refuge, but because of your Immigration status you can't access this. If you have children you're placed in a B&B or hostel with drug users. Or you're told that Social Services will take the child into care, but you can stay on the streets. If you're lucky social services may agree to pay for a room in a refuge for you and your child. If you don't have children you're told that the authorities have no legal obligation towards you. So you're faced with an impossible choice...you're on the streets or you return to your abuser.

This funding from Westhill Endowment will ensure that we can provide one room within the refuge for women in this situation, who don't have children and have no safety net of support from social services.

This temporary, safe, accommodation will make a lasting difference in these women's lives by giving them a safe space to access vital immigration advice and regularise their status whilst receiving emotional and holisitic support and advocacy. It reduces isolation, stigma and discrimination and encourages a group that has been wrongly misrepresented in the media due to the 'hostile environment' to share in the life of the whole community through resettlement and integration through community groups.