Make a Stand case studies

Natalie, 32, a mother of five children, had to leave private accommodation because of domestic abuse in a previous relationship.

Bernicia’s Ashkirk facility team offered her a house at its homeless support unit and she now lives in a permanent social housing home with her family.

Ashirk offers a range of services through a specialist team to support families suffering domestic abuse, homelessness and other crises. The team help them get back on their feet, providing a temporary property until they have the skills and confidence to move into their own home.

Homeless Service Support Worker Lily Renney is part of the Bernicia Care and Support Team, helping Natalie and her family find their new home to begin a fresh chapter in their lives.

“I was terrified when we had to leave, I had nowhere to go or anything, but when I came here I thought ‘I’m alright, it’s safe in here,’” said Natalie.

“They give you all the support you need and help you out, even emotionally, to help you move on. I’m not used to having people on my side, I was just cabined up in the house listening to orders.

“I just felt I was failing my kids. They were going through a hard time as well as me. It was really hard.

“Lily is lovely, she comes to check on me at least once a week, she is honestly mint.

“They are the best people ever. My kids love her.”

Lily said: “I’ve seen a big change in Natalie, she has a lot more confidence, and now she is thriving.

“Natalie when she first moved into Ashkirk struggled with money, struggled with her finances quite a lot, so we’ve worked to maximise benefits so she’s a lot better off now and manages really well.

“We’ve also put in place support networks to help her with relationships.”

believe housing has renewed its commitment to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Make a Stand pledge, joining other members of the North East Housing Partnership to support those affected by domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse can take many forms, including emotional, financial, and physical harm, often involving coercive control that makes it difficult for victims to seek help. These situations are complex and can have lasting effects on families and communities.

believe housing’s approach is simple: people come first. The organisation respects individual choices and provides practical support. If someone wants to leave, the team helps them find a safe place. If they choose to stay, measures such as improved locks or security lighting can make their home safer. Enforcement action is taken when appropriate, and perpetrators who want to change are referred to specialist services.

Partnerships with organisations like Harbour, Wearside Women in Need, and Wear Valley Women’s Aid ensure customers receive expert help quickly. Where there is serious risk, believe housing works with safeguarding partners to keep people safe.

Colleagues are trained to spot signs of abuse and respond sensitively. Employees affected at home can access confidential support and counselling. Inclusivity and accessibility remain central to all services.

Through awareness campaigns, training, and tools like the Something Not Right app, believe housing focuses on prevention as well as response. Last year, the organisation supported more than 400 customers affected by domestic abuse, with cases becoming increasingly complex.

Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods, Sam Humble, said: “Keeping customers and colleagues safe is at the heart of everything we do. Our role is to support people, respect their choices, and help them reach a place of safety.”

Newcastle City Council is committed to tackling domestic abuse and supporting tenants who are experiencing or threatened with it. Our aim is to provide a safe, supportive space to enable any tenant experiencing domestic abuse to be able to access the help they need. 

We believe that everyone deserves to live in safety and without fear. There is no excuse for domestic abuse, and it is unacceptable in our city. 

Together, we’re making a stand by working with our tenants to develop a policy to offer support and guidance on how we will tackle domestic abuse. We aim to: 

• Raise awareness of what domestic violence and abuse is
• Train our staff to recognise and respond to the signs of domestic violence and abuse
• Create a safe environment that encourages people to reveal that they are experiencing domestic abuse and seek help and support 
• Respect confidentiality and build trust  
• Meet the housing needs of those experiencing domestic abuse by helping to provide secure and safe accommodation 
• Work in partnership with other organisations to tackle domestic violence and abuse and protect victims.  
• Take action against perpetrators of domestic abuse where possible. 

An essential part of raising awareness about domestic abuse is empowering those affected to speak out and seek assistance. We know that sometimes a person may not realise that the abuse they are experiencing is not normal and is unacceptable, particularly when physical violence is not present. We also acknowledge that domestic abuse is a gendered crime, however it is important to note that men and people from the LGBT+ community can also experience domestic abuse and may experience additional barriers to disclosing it.   

Through information and regular awareness initiatives across our different channels and within the communities in which people live, we will encourage tenants affected by domestic abuse to step forward. We will reassure them that they are not alone, and that support is available either directly from ourselves or via one of our partners.