HAC5901 Sanctuary Scheme Projects

The Tower Hamlets Sanctuary Scheme Project has been funded by Homelessness Services each year since 2004 and has contributed effectively to safeguarding domestic violence survivors and their families. This year, we have widened the eligibility criteria to victims of any of the VAWG strands to account for the prevalence of these strands in borough and to ensure that any victim of VAWG is able to feel safe in their own home.

This is a partnership initiative between the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council and the successful Sanctuary installation company. The project offers victims of VAWG the option to remain safely and securely in their homes, through the installation of free, tailored home security.

The reasons for requiring this service are as follows:

• To provide increased security in the homes of VAWG victims and their families so they can remain living in their homes
• The Sanctuary scheme prevents homelessness amongst VAWG victims and their families. It allows victims to feel safer and remain in their community.
• The Sanctuary Scheme provides additional support to cases where there are legal orders in place to prevent the perpetrators from attending the property or contacting the victim (for example, a non-molestation order)
• The Sanctuary scheme is integral to child protection and safeguarding processes within this borough and actively seeks to increase the safety of victims

We are committed to delivering a trauma-informed approach to working with victims of VAWG, given that a high proportion of them will have experienced some degree of trauma during their lives. Therefore we want the contractor to show that they are working in a trauma-informed way.

Every Sanctuary installation is assessed individually and tailored to the safety needs and circumstances of the individual and property involved. The Sanctuary installation company and where required the Councils Protective Security Manager will visit the home to assess and recommend the appropriate security measures, which will increase safety to the family home. The Sanctuary contractor will carry out these installations based on their recommendations and where required, recommendations of the Protective Security Manager.

The Sanctuary Co-ordinator who sits within the LBTH VAWG & Hate Crime Team will be responsible for the coordination of this service.