The overwhelming response to our Christmas 2003 Appeal clearly surpassed all our expectations, with loads of brand new donated toys for our resident children and gifts for mums at The Haven Wolverhampton.

This year The Haven Play Team managed the huge influx of toys arriving since the end of November. The play team beavered away behind the scenes, sorting, displaying and creating a shop like environment for our mums to come and choose toys for their children to enable them to have as normal a Christmas as possible. Mums were really appreciative of all the efforts made and were delighted to receive an abundance of toys: “This is fantastic”, “ I am so grateful to everybody” were some of the comments

Needless to say a huge thank you is extended to all who contributed in whatever way to help bring the celebration of Christmas to those temporarily disadvantaged. The lives of children and mums have been touched by your generosity, if only you could see for yourselves the sheer delight brought to many! The children were most impressed by the response to their very own personal ‘wish list’. The gift of a DVD Player was greatly welcomed, as was the chocolates for their mum’s; the opportunity to take all our mums and children to the Pantomime, Food Hampers and the abundance of gifts received; your generosity astounded us all.

Thank You from all our children, mum’s, staff, management team and Board who acknowledge your empathy, care, compassion, generosity and kindness not only at Christmas time but throughout the whole year making a huge difference to the quality of life of those women and children whom we support.

ROSALEEN WARD
Appeals and Publicity



Welcome to the spring newsletter. We have focussed our Newsletter this time on The Haven's Core Services and an interesting article from Jas Devgon, Assistant Chief Executive in relation to a recent visit to India.

The Haven offers an excellent range of services to women and children wishing to access them:
- Emergency Accommodation;
- Housing Advice;
- Specialist Support for Asain Women;
- Outreach and Resettlement Service;
- Counseling / Support;
- Play Development;
- 24 hour staffing;
- Individual Support Programmes.

We have, as we have previously informed you, been able to extend part of our services to include the Floating Support Team which has been very successful in supporting women and children living in the community.

One area of concern to us, as providers, was the service delivery to Asian women with no recourse to public funds as a result of escaping domestic violence. I am delighted to inform you that as a result of grants from Sigrid Rausing Trust and the Sheldon Trust, it will now be possible to provide adequate support to those women who find themselves resident at The Haven.

We have a busy time ahead of us over the next 12 months and would like to thank all for your continuing support.

A membership application Form is available for those of you who may be interested in supporting us more actively as our organisation grows ands develops. The key skills around Human Resources Management, Finance and Information Technology are required more and more to ensure that we meet our key objectives in the coming months.

If you feel you can offer such support them please complete and return the Form, addressed to me, at PO Box 105, Wolverhampton, WV3 0TN.

KATH REES.
Chief Executive.


From October to December 2003, The Haven Wolverhampton received referrals from 315 women and 296 children. We were able to accommodate 90 women and their children.

The Haven Wolverhampton aims to provide quality and sensitive services to women and any dependent children who are homeless through reasons such as Domestic Violence and in need of safety, shelter, stability and support within an environment of equality, dignity and respect.

To provide practical and emotional support to women and any dependent children who access The Haven Wolverhampton by:

- Providing information on options that are available to the client.
- Providing information on potential implications of these options.
- Providing practical and emotional support to the client in whatever choice(s) they make.
and
- Providing and / or facilitating the access to services and support to assist them in achieving their goals.

In all dealings with clients we work towards enabling the client to make informed choices and to maintain independence.


Our business office number is 01902 572140, fax: 01902 572144.
For referrals and 24 hour emergency assistance only, please call 01902 713001.
Business Administration Office:
26, Chapel Ash,
Wolverhampton.


Visit our website at www.havenrefuge.org.uk for details of how you can make a difference.

Download Gift Aid Form here.