By the Sisters of Mercy:
In Stoke on Trent a group of concerned individuals are in the process of setting up a registered charity, Whispers of Hope, which will provide a safe haven for women who are fleeing domestic abuse who also have complications regarding their immigration status.
Sr Geraldine Sweeney
In November 2019, Sr Geraldine Sweeney moved from her community in Newcastle under Lyme to Avan House, a house in the Stoke on Trent area to become part of the hosting presence to women who have immigration issues and who are also fleeing domestic abuse. These women have no access to public funds. The project has established a “safe space” drop-in and the opening of Avan House will give women safe shelter whilst they are supported with their immigration difficulties. As Sisters of Mercy, we feel this work is very much in line with the support of women that our foundress Venerable Catherine McAuley encouraged.
Each person who is referred to Whispers of Hope is assigned a befriender and there are also volunteers offering English lessons. Each week, Avan House will have a house meal which female volunteers are invited to attend.
Although Whispers of Hope has only been established less than a year it has already had referrals of women from various agencies including the Asylum Nursing team and Staffordshire police. When the police visited Avan House they were very impressed and said that such a place was so needed as there is a huge number of incidents of so-called ‘honour-based’ violence in the Stoke on Trent area. Many women who are supported by Whispers of Hope are in the UK on spousal visas with a condition of living with their husband; when a woman leaves her husband, she is not entitled to any benefits and one of the first things to do is to apply to the Home Office to have the conditions of her visa changed.
Whispers of Hope are very grateful to the Institute for the donation which has enabled them to open Avan House. Sr Geraldine Sweeney is living in Avan House as a member of the hosting community.
If there is any religious congregation of women who has a member who feels that this is a work that she could undertake, please contact Sr Geraldine Sweeney on :
geraldine.sweeney@iolmercy.org.uk
