Accessing Change Together

Changing Lives works with people experiencing challenging circumstances, including domestic abuse and housing and homelessness issues.

Changing Lives provides Middlesbrough's domestic abuse refuge for women and children escaping domestic abuse. They provide safe accommodation for those with protected characteristics who may not be able to access the refuge (for example, male victims, elderly people, or victims from Black and migrant communities). They provide support for up to 15 women and their children in the refuge, and provide move-on support after they leave. They work to prevent further domestic abuse by providing support and space for women to regain control of their lives and move towards safe independent living.

Changing Lives also provides accommodation at Erimus House for young people aged 16 to 24, who are homeless. They offer a wide range of support so each young person gains the skills they need to move into independent living, as well as employment, education, or training.

Find out more on the Changing Lives website.

Home Group offers a wide range of specialist and support services to people with complex health and social care needs.

They provide supported accommodation for young people in Middlesbrough aged 16 to 24. Their focus is on their customers living independently and feeling enabled (LIFE). As part of LIFE, they look at 3 areas - wellbeing, skills, and physical health.

Find out more on the Home Group website.

My Sisters Place are a domestic abuse support service which provides support to those who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse. The service offers practical, holistic, and therapeutic support for domestic abuse. They are a needs-led service using a trauma-informed approach.

They accept referrals from a range of external agencies, as well as self-referrals from clients.

The service offers specialist support, including:

• independent domestic violence advocate (IDVA)
• life enhancement skills advisor (LESA)
• children and young person's IDVA (CYP IDVA)
• sanctuary scheme
• counselling and therapeutic services - adults and children and young people
• group programmes
• dispersed properties

Clients who are assessed as high or very high risk will be given priority and supported by an independent domestic violence advocate (IDVA).

Clients who are assessed as medium to standard risk will be given support depending on their needs. This may include the support of the life enhancement skills advisor (LESA).

All clients accessing the service are assessed using the Safe Lives DASH risk indicator checklist.

Clients living in the Middlesbrough area will be given priority. Anyone referred from outside this area will be given initial advice but will then be signposted to an appropriate service in their area. They will also be given emergency numbers for their area, including the national helpline number for domestic abuse.

The service is open Monday to Thursday (9am to 5pm) and Friday (9am to 4:30pm).

Phone: 01642 241864

Email: hello@mysistersplace.co.uk

They offer housing and support solutions for people who need a little extra help to gain vital skills and the confidence to live independently. They have purpose-built accommodation with staff on-site, as well as the option for a support worker to visit you.

Rainham House offers supported accommodation of 11 self-contained flats for women and children aged 16+, and one crash pad for women aged 16 and above.

Hestia offers up to 7 dispersed housing properties for women aged 18 and above.

Find out more on the North Star Housing Group website.

Recovery Connections is a peer-led, substance use recovery organisation.

They offer a residential rehab programme which gives you a place to live while you’re starting your recovery journey. The programme promotes honesty, patience, and tolerance, as well as giving back as a way to heal and recover. There are other ways to access the programme without being a resident, if you’re not able to live on site.

Most people will be referred to Recovery Connections from another part of the ACT service, in particular the Recovery Solutions team. Some may come directly from prison, or as part of a community rehabilitation requirement imposed by the courts.

Recovery Connections also provides a community programme of activities to help individuals in recovery to live a healthy lifestyle with support from the recovery community.

Find out more on the Recovery Connections website.

Riverside offers supported housing services which combine accommodation with support.

Hardwick House is a supported housing project, of 20 single, self-contained flats, for single veterans who were homeless or at risk of rough sleeping.

Stages Academy offers trial flats for the most vulnerable and socially-excluded homeless people in Middlesbrough. It offers meaningful activities along with practical and emotional support to help prevent homelessness, reduce re-offending, and promote health and wellbeing.

Find out more on the Riverside website.

As well as housing, Thirteen offers services including help for vulnerable people, employability advice, extra care schemes to help people live independently, home adaptations, and help with anti-social behaviour.

Thirteen offers support to homeless families in Middlesbrough at Penrith Road. There are 12 two-bedroom and 2 three-bedroom flats with access to a communal area, laundry facilities, and an outdoor play area. Staff members are available 24 hours a day. The support available at Penrith Road helps residents to become independent by giving them the skills to manage a tenancy. This includes support with managing money, gaining confidence, and looking for work, education, or training.

A crash pad is also available for homeless 16 to 17 year olds, for a maximum stay of 4 weeks.

Find out more on the Thirteen website.