REFFERAL SERVICE ONLY

Ascent Moving Forward Groups help women and girls aged 16 plus who have experienced or are at risk of gendered violence move forward positively with their lives. Open to women from the following Boroughs: Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Westminster. 

Invitation to attend the course is through referral only, please complete this Referral Form and email to: groups@wgn.org.uk

Note that the referral form must be completed fully with any clear information particularly relating to safeguarding issues. Any incomplete forms will be returned for more information. Once we have reviewed applications we will contact women to let them know whether they have a place on the group (this will be subject to suitability). Women are also able to self-refer by calling the admin and bookings team on: 020 7610 4678, between 10.00am-5.00pm, our team will be able to take the referrals over the phone. 

Before you send a referral in to our team for review, you must be able to access sessions remotely online. 

 Participants will need to have the following: 

Access to a smart phone, laptop, computer or tablet

Adequate wifi / ethernet connection

Microphone, speaker on their device or headphones

With the new arrangements, clients are responsible for their own environment and are required to have a sufficient level of privacy and quiet with no other persons from the household present for the duration of the group. This is necessary for them to ensure their own safety and confidentiality and also that of other women participating in the group. This means that In cases where clients have children or other family members in the household, they will not be able to be present in the same room. Participants will need to download a free app to access the groups and we will of course support them to do this. 

Weekly sessions will be 2 hours delivered over 8 weeks throughout the next few months. This series of eight workshops provides a space to talk, listen and be heard in an emotionally supportive and safe environment. Group work gives an opportunity to share experiences and information with other survivors, and explore and understand the impact of gendered violence. You will also use practical exercises to help create healthy boundaries and relationships, and improve self-care. 

The group programme offers:

• Some first steps on the road to recovery from domestic and or sexual abuse  
  
• A space to talk, listen and be heard in an emotionally supportive and safe environment  
  
• An opportunity for women to share experiences and information with other women
  
• An opportunity to explore and understand the impact of domestic and sexual violence  
  
• Support to develop greater self-awareness, build confidence and make positive choices
  
• Practical exercises to help create healthy boundaries and relationships and improve self-care.
  

Note that if the client is living with a perpetrator, they will not be able to attend a group if the perpetrator is on the premises for the duration of the group for safeguarding purposes. Unfortunately we can no longer accept women who are in the midst of criminal proceedings, if they are in the crucial process of providing statements to the police. However, you can still refer women if the case is coming to a close or if the case is a family related matter.

The service is part of the London VAWG Consortium.

  Quality Assured Provider