WiSER Project

The Women in Safer Engagement and Recovery (WiSER) Project is a partnership of specialist VAWG charities working to support women who are currently experiencing gender-based violence and abuse alongside having experienced severe multiple disadvantages. We work with women who are frequently excluded from mainstream services and/or find it hard to engage with the support as it is conventionally offered.

We provide flexible, psychologically-informed and strengths-based care by offering long-term 1:1 advocacy, assertive outreach, and emotional and practical support for women and girls aged 16+. 

We work responsively, based on their individual needs, to:

• Engage with other specialist support services
• Communicate with and access statutory support
• Access benefits or other means of safe financial independence
• Engage with physical and mental health services
• Safety plan for multiple areas of their lives
• Understand harm reduction principles with substance use
• Access safe housing
• Understand healthy relationships
• Build self-esteem and confidence
• Engage in wellbeing and community activities
• Access work, education, and training

Referral criteria

• Identify as woman or non-binary
• Aged 16 or over
• Living in one of the following London boroughs:
  • Barnet, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest
• Currently experiencing any form of VAWG (violence against women and girls) within the past 3 months (further details on the referral form)
• Multiple disadvantages must include at least four of these on referral:
• Problematic substance use
• Significant mental ill health
• Significant physical ill health
• Affected by or at risk of prostitution or sexual exploitation
• History of offending behaviour
• Homelessness/ insecure housing
• History of children being removed from her care and/or at risk of further removals
• Insecure or uncertain immigration status

We take professional referrals only. Please contact wiser@solacewomensaid.org to request a referral form.