West Midlands

These behavioural support services focus on building confidence and providing women with the tools and guidance needed to overcome issues such as social anxiety and relationship difficulties. They also support women and girls in creating effective emotional coping strategies and fostering positive social behaviours.

Specialist support is essential for women and girls who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence and exploitation. This support aims to address the multifaceted impacts of abuse, including physical, emotional, financial, and logistical challenges. Services are available for survivors of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and individuals involved with or leaving sex work.

For women and girls affected by domestic violence and abuse, support services provide crucial help in managing the physical, emotional, financial, and practical challenges of their situation. These services offer essential support for those seeking safety, leaving abusive relationships, or recovering from trauma.

Support services for women and girls focus on facilitating access to education, training, and employment, including both paid and voluntary roles, as they leave prison. These services address challenges such as unemployment and the disclosure of criminal convictions, aiding their re-entry into the job market or educational pursuits.

These dedicated services and programmes support women in handling the challenges associated with caring responsibilities, parenting, and maintaining trusted interpersonal relationships with family members, partners, friends, and colleagues. The aim is to assist women in effectively managing these vital aspects of their lives.

Women often encounter significant stress and difficulty due to financial issues, benefits, and debt. Specialist finance, benefit, and debt support services provide a range of assistance, from financial advice and debt management plans to guidance on benefits and referrals to expert support services designed to help overcome financial challenges.

For women and girls experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or emotional crises, specialist support is essential. Services can offer access to mental health professionals, counselling, and therapies. They provide guidance, develop care plans, manage crises, and help women navigate mental health services to achieve better mental wellness.

To heal, grow, and flourish, women need to prioritise their physical health and wellbeing. The women’s centres and specialist services available offer support in developing and maintaining healthy practices. This includes improving physical fitness, engaging in regular exercise, practising mindfulness and self-care, following balanced nutrition and sleep routines, and participating in enjoyable hobbies, all contributing to a comprehensive sense of self-care.

Specialist services offer support to women and girls struggling with addiction and substance dependency, including drug and alcohol issues. They provide assistance with cessation and intervention treatments, aid in recovery from addiction, and help those with problems related to unsafe substances. Services are also available for individuals who identify as recovering addicts.

Volunteer roles offer women and girls a chance to participate in rewarding, community-driven activities. These roles help them build skills, acquire knowledge, and gain experience while also broadening their professional networks. Volunteering can also provide personal development opportunities and open doors to paid job prospects.

These dedicated accommodation services support women living in temporary or insecure housing, as well as those who are homeless or sofa surfing. They may also help women to find safe, approved premises or affordable accommodation solutions.

For women navigating the criminal justice system, access to quality legal advice and support is crucial. Available services include pro bono legal assistance, support in understanding women’s rights and UK law, and guidance on accessing legal aid.

Emotional support, counselling, and advocacy are vital for women coping with bereavement, grief, and loss. Services such as grief counselling, talking therapy, and group work offer essential comfort and guidance as they work through their grief.

Through peer-to-peer and mentoring services, women can gain empowerment and build networks with others who have experienced the criminal justice system. These programmes also offer avenues for women to explore volunteer roles and paid employment, enhancing their skills and opportunities.

Pregnant women, new mothers, and those with infants and toddlers under two require vital antenatal, postnatal, and perinatal support during their journey into motherhood. Specialist services are offered to support women separated from their children, those engaged with children’s social care, and pregnant women in prison or mother and baby units, including those at risk of removal.

For women and girls navigating the asylum process or dealing with immigration issues, specialist support services that are culturally sensitive and language-appropriate are essential. This support is crucial for those in immigration removal centres, migrant women in custody, and families resettling into new communities.