The first Safe Houses in the UK with specialised and organised support for Polish women with children are NOW OPEN!

Opoka is a unique and first-of-its-kind bilingual, specialist domestic violence prevention centre in the UK.

We are proud to offer for the first time safe accommodation with specialist support in our two homes for Polish women with children up to the age of 10.

Our homes are NOW OPEN! and we have started accepting referrals.

All referrals are subject to criteria that must be met to ensure safety and the level of support offered.

Our Safe Houses

‘OAZA-1’ and ‘OAZA-2’
Opoka believes that no one should live with domestic or sexual violence, especially those who face additional barriers that increase inequality, simply because they need a higher level of support due to their cultural identity, nationality, language needs, or status in the UK.

Among many other specialist services, we provide safe shelter and support for Polish women with no more than 2 children under the age of 10 who are in urgent need of support.

Who are our homes available for?

• Women who have experienced domestic violence.
• Women with no more than two children of school age (up to 10 years old).
• Women who experience difficulty accessing support or safe accommodation.
• Women who struggle with language barriers or lack information about available help.
• Women who feel isolated, have no family support, and have limited financial resources.
• Women who have no access to safe and appropriate support in Polish elsewhere.
• Women with regulated immigration status (Settle/Pre-settle status) and the right to benefits and social assistance in the UK.
• Women who do not have severe and permanent diagnosed mental health issues or substance addiction.

Why Opoka can provide the best help?

Opoka is an award-winning organisation affiliated with the Women’s Aid Federation of England (WAFE), which has awarded Opoka the ‘National Quality Standard Award’ for professionalism and high-quality specialist services.

With over 11 years of experience helping Polish women and their children who have experienced domestic violence, Opoka’s support is delivered by a specially trained team with extensive experience in the domestic violence sector. The founder and director of Opoka has personally experienced life-threatening abuse during her first marriage.

Since 2012, Opoka has undergone significant growth through the dedication of our founder and the commitment of numerous volunteers and staff, helping thousands of vulnerable and isolated women and children across the UK.

Our OAZA Homes

The OAZA homes provide a safe haven for women and their children, as well as the specialized support needed during such a difficult and transformative time. Our highly trained team of volunteers and staff provide trauma-informed support to help victims of violence and their children understand and safely process the trauma they have experienced, allowing women and children to heal from the violence they’ve endured.

Our specialists help women fully utilize their strengths, confidently plan for the future, and develop the resilience necessary to build a safe and happy life free from violence. The OAZA homes are affiliated with Women’s Aid, which means we fully support the Women’s Aid principle of an ‘open-door’ policy, trusting women’s testimonies about their experiences of domestic violence.

Our Facilities

The rooms in our homes are designed to the highest standards, spacious, well-equipped, and safe. Our independent apartments feature kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms for the families to live independently.

Our ‘Share House’ with 5 bedrooms has a wide range of amenities, including a large communal kitchen with a dining area, bathrooms, and relaxation areas, as well as tech and information zones, including safe spaces for children.

The rooms in our homes have sufficient space for us to adapt them to the needs and size of each family. We also provide a small, confidential meeting space for sessions with staff, and our offices for our staff and volunteers are nearby. There is also an outdoor garden space for relaxation and children’s play.

Program Structure

Our safe and specialist housing program usually lasts from 12 weeks to, in appropriate cases, up to 2 years.

We will first assess applications based on our criteria and accommodation availability.
(Due to urgent needs and information verification, this process usually takes up to 24 hours.)

Once a referral is accepted, we will meet the women in a designated safe location to discuss the accommodation, support we offer, and house rules. We will then accompany them to their new accommodation.

During the first month, we provide a dedicated support worker and daily access to help with any needs. This includes support with safety planning, access to services, finding schools and healthcare for their children, and guidance through the available support system.

Our support is tailored to each individual and family to ensure the appropriate level of assistance as they begin a new life. We will also offer individual counseling for women and their children, as well as group support sessions.

When women feel strong enough and ready to live independently, we will offer them a move from the shared house to one of our independent apartments.

Group support and mentoring are key elements at this stage.

We will encourage women to access skill development and professional experience, including guidance on how to seek further practical support.

How many places can we offer?

Currently, we can offer spaces for 5 Polish women with younger children in our large shared house and for 4 women in independent apartments. We currently have one property with 5 bedrooms and one property with 4 independent apartments.

We apply a holistic approach to supporting women and their children to achieve positive change, acknowledging that they may face multiple complex challenges. From our experience, we know that women who have survived domestic violence are also often discriminated against and have related mental health needs. Our top priority is always to ensure women’s immediate safety needs are met and assist them in accessing support for any evident health issues. Only once these needs are addressed will we work with them to help rebuild their confidence and support them on their recovery journey.

Contact Us:

Email: info@opoka.org.uk
Tel: 0117 472 0012