The Nottingham City Sanctuary Scheme

Helping to protect survivors of domestic violence

What do we mean by a ‘survivor’ of domestic violence?
What is the Sanctuary Scheme?
Who can apply to the Scheme?
How much will it cost?
How do I refer someone onto the scheme?
What does the Interview involve?
What does the Property Assessment involve?
Sanctuary Plus – support for survivors
Reviewing the Sanctuary
Contact us

What do we mean by a ‘survivor’ of domestic violence?

A ‘survivor’ is a person who has suffered domestic violence and is taking positive action to end the cycle of abuse.

What is the Sanctuary Scheme?

The Nottingham City Sanctuary Scheme aims to help survivors of domestic violence to remain in their own homes and feel safe. This is done by providing additional security to the survivor’s property. For example, we can reinforce front and back doors, and install intruder alarms. There are three levels of Sanctuary which can be installed to a property, depending on the level of risk faced by the survivor.  

All applicants to the scheme receive support from the Sanctuary Plus Support Workers. Our Workers provide support to the survivor while the physical aspects of the Sanctuary are being installed and for a short period afterwards.

Applicants to the scheme are also offered legal advice so that they are able to exercise their rights of occupation and exclude the perpetrator from their property.

All properties with a Sanctuary installed are also tagged with the emergency services.  If a 999 call is made from a property, the emergency service operator can see immediately that a Sanctuary has been installed at the address.  

Who can apply to the Scheme?

To be eligible to apply to the Sanctuary Scheme, you must:

• be a survivor of domestic violence
• live within the Nottingham City boundary
• have rights to occupy your property. The scheme is open to people who own their own property and to people who rent their property.  However, in some cases, we do need to ask the landlord’s permission for work to go ahead.

How much will it cost?

There is no cost to the survivor for the Sanctuary Scheme.  This scheme is jointly funded by central government, the Supporting People initiative and Nottingham City Council.

How do I refer someone onto the scheme?

All referrals should be made directly to Housing Aid (our contact details are provided overleaf).  Referrals are accepted from several agencies such as Nottingham City Homes, Women’s Aid, the Police and Housing Associations.  Survivors can also refer themselves to the scheme by approaching Housing Aid directly.

There is a referral form to be completed and sent to the Sanctuary Team at Housing Aid. The referral is then considered by the Sanctuary Coordinators, who decide whether the applicant meets the basic referral criteria.  The Sanctuary Team aims to make the decision on the referral within two working days.

If the applicant is not felt to be a suitable candidate for the Sanctuary Scheme, the referring agency is informed in writing.

If the applicant meets the criteria, the applicant is then invited to Housing Aid for an interview.

If the applicant is unable to remain in their home while the process is completed, temporary accommodation for the household should be sought.

What does the Interview involve?

During the interview, the Sanctuary Coordinators ask for more detailed information about the survivor, the perpetrator and the history of abuse.  This information is used to make an assessment as to whether or not a Sanctuary can offer a satisfactory level of protection. To help make this decision, the Police are asked to advise on the level of security which is appropriate for that individual.

If the interview shows that a Sanctuary is not appropriate, the applicant and referring agency are notified in writing.

If the applicant is accepted onto the scheme, an appointment is then made for their property to be assessed.

What does the Property Assessment involve?

The Sanctuary Coordinators, a Surveyor from Nottingham City Homes and the Fire Service attend the property to assess whether it is physically possible to install a Sanctuary.  Please note that if we are not able to install an adequate level of security, the works may not go ahead.

Once the property has been assessed, permission is sought from both the tenant and landlord before the works go ahead.

To avoid any unnecessary risk to the survivor, they are shown pictures of the contractors who will be working on the property before they begin.

Once the security has been installed, it is inspected and signed off by both the Nottingham City Homes and the Sanctuary Coordinators.

Sanctuary Plus – support for survivors

The Sanctuary Plus Support Workers are specialists in dealing with cases of domestic violence and offer assistance on the following:

• Criminal and Civil Proceeding: this could include having the perpetrator removed from the property as well as child contact issues.
• Personal safety planning, for example what to do if the perpetrator tries to access the property.
• Advocating on behalf of survivors and accompanying them to appointments, for example with their solicitor or the housing department.
• Providing emotional support and advice.
• Supporting women who have additional drug and alcohol issues.

Sanctuary Plus Support is provided for between 3 and 6 months from when the Sanctuary is installed in the property.  If support is still needed after this period, the survivor is referred to the appropriate agencies.

The Sanctuary Plus Support is a vital and integral part of the Sanctuary scheme. It is therefore not possible to install a sanctuary where support is refused.

Reviewing the Sanctuary

Every Sanctuary is reviewed after three months. The Coordinators and Nottingham City Homes revisit the property to ensure that the security is adequate. Equipment may be removed if inappropriate or at the request of the landlord. However, generally measures will be left once installed.

If the level of risk has reduced, the tags with the emergency services will be reviewed and removed.  

Please note that a sanctuary can only be installed once into a property.

Please note that even when a Sanctuary has been installed, the Nottingham City Sanctuary Team cannot guarantee the safety of the survivor and the household.

It is therefore crucial that the Sanctuary is the choice of the survivor.  Referrals will not be accepted where there are any doubts on the part of the survivor.

Contact us

Housing Aid
135 Lower Parliament Street
Nottingham
NG1 1EE

Tel: 0115 915 3000
Fax: 0115 915 3073
Email: Sanctuary@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

24 hour Domestic Violence help-line:
0808 800 0340