Peterborough homeless charity launches weekly women-only sessions
Light Project Peterborough aims to provide a safe and welcoming space for women experiencing homelessness in the city.
Light Project Peterborough, a charity who helps homeless people, are set to provide weekly women-only sessions at its day centre, The Garden House.
It comes after the charity has seen a rise in the number of female visitors feeling intimidated by male presence in the last two years, due to past trauma. They now want to offer a safe space where homeless women can confide in other women.
Senior Project Worker, Megan Wreford said women make up around 20% of those accessing the centre, with numbers rising steadily over the past two years:
"We've seen this rise over the last couple of years. I think a lot of women have experienced trauma and we want to make sure that they all feel welcome and supported."
The women-only sessions begin on Friday morning and will run from 10am until 12:30pm. Homeless women can speak to female volunteers, use showers provided and also speak to other experts on things like housing and substance advice. There's also a huge focus on self care, said Megan Wreford:
"Our biggest focus is going to be on self care. From a mental health point a few, a lot of the homeless women that come in lack self care and self confidence. Being able to boost their confidence is a big priority for us."
"We're really wanting to make them fun, relaxing and safe sessions. It's about building up the trust with the female guests in the hope that they will keep coming back and accessing the support that we can offer."
Homelessness among women is a growing concern, with many facing unique challenges including safety, isolation, and access to appropriate support. Initiatives like these women-only sessions aim to address some of these barriers, providing a tailored approach to care and support.
Light Project Peterborough is encouraging local homeless women to attend the sessions and make use of the centre's facilities.