Local women’s charity, Trevi, has launched its Blossom Appeal to raise funds for a women-only accommodation service based in the centre of Plymouth for women affected by trauma and abuse.
The Blossom Women’s House Appeal was launched at a celebration event at The Box to mark Trevi’s 30th anniversary this year. The new facility will be for women with complex and multiple needs with the capacity to accommodate nine women across three floors. It will be a safe, contained, homely space with an enclosed back garden.
Blossom Women’s House will be the place where women can find some peace and security and take positive steps in their journey of recovery from trauma and abuse.
The accommodation is vital as there is a shortage of women-only accommodation in Plymouth. Countless projects, service interventions and commissioned research highlight how a lack of women-only accommodation is acting as a significant barrier to women moving forward in life.
Women are entering a revolving door in and out of accommodation, restricting their ability even to get a chance to address their trauma and understand how it manifests so that they can move forward in life.
Without this safe space, women are trapped or sofa surfing in unsafe perpetrators’ homes, sometimes locked into a world of drugs and substance misuse and at continuous and high risk of domestic and sexual violence.
While there is already a lot of incredible work happening in Plymouth, Trevi wants to seize this opportunity to help to build capacity for women.
Trevi has now reached a critical time where vital funds are needed to ensure that women are given the best possible chance of exiting a life filled with trauma and abuse by allowing them to move into safe, 24/7 supported, women-only accommodation.
Hannah Shead, Trevi chief executive said:
“This is Trevi’s biggest appeal to date and will significantly impact the lives of women affected by domestic abuse and violence. As we celebrate our 30th milestone, we couldn’t ask for a better start to what will be an exciting year!
“It’s important that Blossom feels homely and nurturing so that women are supported to heal, grow and thrive. For some women, Blossom will be the first place that they experience what a real home is like. With the help of our local community, we can ensure that Blossom is designed, decorated and furnished to be a warm, homely and welcoming space with thought put into all the finishing touches so that women feel valued and loved.”
The Blossom Appeal needs to raise £615,000 for Trevi to be able to purchase and refurbish the property. So far, Trevi has raised £405,000 from trusts, foundations, pledges and donors, leaving £210,000 to raise by December 2023.
Trevi want to work with community groups, businesses, funders and individuals to make this happen. For more information, visit www.trevi.org.uk/blossom-appeal.
