The idea
Advance’s women’s centre in Hammersmith is a safe place for women and girls to rest, recover and rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma. We offer emotional and practical support, helping women to feel safe, get on top of debt, find accommodation and rediscover their confidence. However, it’s currently challenging for women with additional mobility needs to access the space as our entrances and facilities are out of date. With this funding, we’ll refurbish the centre to make it fully accessible so we can welcome all women and make them feel safe and valued when in the centre. The project will see new ramps fitted in our garden and new bathroom facilities too. Our teams will bring in experts who can advise us on the design and support the refurbishment to make the biggest difference to those will accessibility needs. By making these changes, women won't face additional barriers to accessing the support they need after experiencing trauma.
What we'll deliver
- Accessible gender neutral toilet
- Accessible ramps and handrails for the garden
- Accessible ramps for inside the centre
Why it's a great idea
The project will have a number of benefits. Importantly, it will enable more women to access practical and emotional support from Advance’s Women’s Centre and rebuild their lives after the trauma of domestic abuse or the criminal justice system. Once at the centre, they can join group activities such as art, poetry and creative writing which all help women to rediscover themselves and their talents so they can go on to achieve their goals and aspirations; some will go on to further education or employment. In addition, the opportunity to connect in person with others who have had similar experiences can help build friendships and communities which is so important after isolating experiences of abuse and criminalisation. In addition, the project will help Advance to become a welcoming, inclusive space where women feel valued, supported and can be themselves.
Steps to get it done
- Accessible facilities in place
- Entrances remodeled to become accessible
