Case Studies
Sonya, Marc and Alisha
Sonya and her children Marc 7 and Alisha 2 were referred to Palm Cove Society due to the lack of available social housing once indefinite leave to remain was granted.
Initially, Sonya was apprehensive about the referral and the prospect of sharing one of the schemes properties. However, soon after admission Sonya said she was impressed and happy with the cleanliness and quality of the accommodation and its furnishing. Sonya was under the misconception that she would have to share facilities with many service users, when in reality she shared a three bed roomed house with two other women.
Sonya confessed that she did not mind sharing as it gave her the opportunity to discuss ideas with other women who she found shared similar experiences. These discussions gave Sonya the confidence to explore new ideas and access some services for herself and her children that she may never have known about or tried.
Sonya also praised the friendliness of project workers and the level of support they offered, and the fact that project workers seemed keen to work collaboratively with other agencies to address and overcome any issues the family had.
Sonya has indicated that once she has moved on and is settled in a permanent tenancy she wishes to return to the project as a volunteer worker.
Farrah
Farrah arrived at our project with very few possessions which she carried in a small bag. Farrah was fleeing from her violent husband and abusive family following an enforced marriage when she was just 17 years old in her country of birth Pakistan.
Farrah now 26 had been subjected to 9 years of violence, humiliation and degradation by her husband and his family with whom she had been forced to live in England and as a result had very low self esteem.
Whilst within our project Farrah was supported and encouraged to integrate with other women and members of the immediate local community.
Gradually, Farrah began to develop everyday life skills which she had previously been denied such as, handling and calculating money to pay for any goods she wanted to purchase. She was also given the opportunity to learn how to speak English with other non English speaking women. However, her proudest achievement as a proficient cook was that she shared her expert culinary skills with other members of the project during sessions which she arranged, coordinated and delivered entirely on her own.
With help, support and encouragement Farrah has become an empowered, self sufficient woman who believes she has the ability to leave our project and go on to create the life she deserves.