The women's refuge provides emergency accommodation and support services to women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Services include counseling, legal and medical referrals, and 24/7 support. An art facilitation session was conducted with a service user to promote positive self-esteem and address fears through creating a rainbow of positive adjectives and a dreamcatcher. The session helped the user open up and feel safe while boosting her self-esteem and sense of achievement in her creative works. Feedback was positive about using art to support women in the refuge.

1. Art facilitation
Women’s Refuge

2. Mission Statement
‘We aim to support the right of every woman
and her children to live their lives free from
domestic abuse. We seek to do this by
raising public awareness about the issue,
and by providing a comprehensive range
of services that enable the woman to
regain power and control over her own life
and make informed, independent choices
for her future and the future of her
children’

3. Background of refuge
Established in 1982 by …….Ltd.
Provides emergency accommodation to
women and children who experience
domestic abuse
Operates on a 24hr basis, 365 days a
year

4. Background of refuge
Aim is to provide a safe environment
where individualised care and support is
offered. Services include;
Emergency/ safe accommodation
General advice/ information
General support/ advocacy
Court accompaniment

5. Services Provided
Access/ referral to free counselling service
24hour telephone helpline
Access/ referral to children services
Access/ referral to medical services
Access/ referral to legal services
Access/ referral to social welfare
Access/ referral to local county council
Outreach services

6. Accommodation
Four en-suite family rooms
Communal rooms including;
Family room
Kitchen
Outside playhouse
Children’s playground

7. Referral procedures
Self referral
Referred by other agencies, both statutory
or other non-governmental agencies
Women can access all services provided
on an outreach basis.

8. Recreational activities
 Does not currently have a designated
worker to carry out recreational activities
Mainly undertaken by students and interns
Typically ad-hoc nature

9. Participant
Experienced domestic abuse
Late 40’s
Mental health issues
Considered high needs
Interest in art and crafts

10. Materials used
Coloured paper & Pens
Scissors
Sellotape
Embroidery hoop
Threads
Coloured pipe cleaners
Feathers
Beads

11. Materials used

12. Process
Each activity was explained to the client
and what the rationale was behind it
A YouTube video was used to assist with
explaining how to make a dreamcatcher
http://youtu.be/UbgZ-uDAmAM

13. Self-esteem activity
Objective;
To create a visual rainbow of positive
adjectives to describe her self.
Promote positive self esteem & identity
Encourage creativity

15. Self-esteem rainbow

16. Dream catcher Activity
Objective;
To provide a creative, meaningful way to
address fears and worries
To create a feeling of safety for the client
Encourage creativity

19. Finished products

20. Learning points from the
facilitation
Activity helped the service user reflect on
the positive aspects of her identity
Enhanced self-esteem & put client at ease
Service user felt safe and activity allowed
her open up about fears and anxieties
Encouraged communication
Facilitated self-expression & creativity
Sense of achievement and ownership

21. Limitations to the facilitation
Only working with one service user, could
have been carried out in a group situation
Activity had been prepared by student,
therefore there was no element of choice
for service user. This can be considered
for future facilitations.

22. Evaluation
Overall the facilitation was very successful
and feedback from the service user was
extremely positive. While the facilitation
could have been carried out in a group
session, staff agreed that the service user
would benefit more from one to one work.
Activities encouraged communication and
expression of feelings and anxieties.

23. Evaluation
Service user was relaxed and felt safe in
environment. Created a positive
relationship between student and service
user. Self-esteem activity allowed client to
create a positive visual identity. Service
user felt a sense of achievement and
ownership of work. Use of YouTube video
enhanced the facilitation process.

24. Adaptations
Self-esteem activity can be used with any
age
Dream catcher can be carried out in
different ways, using different materials.
Other suggestions include, bracelets,
necklaces, earrings etc.

25. Thank you for listening!