Natalia’s story

Beacon: rebuilding life after domestic violence

NATALIA* became homeless after surviving a brutal attack by her then partner.

Unable to return home and in need of emergency accommodation on her discharge from hospital, she was put in contact with Turning Lives Around and the Beacon Leeds service.

Here the Beacon team found her a place to live within their community properties. She was firstly allocated a Housing Support Worker and then a DVA Practitioner and signposted to Forward Leeds and Five Ways Recovery Academy. Gradually Natalia began piecing her life back together.

A few years on and Natalia has successfully bid and secured the permanent tenancy of a one-bed property. Her DVA Practitioner successfully applied to a pilot project around homelessness on her behalf and secured a grant which has been spent on her new home, on equipment and preparations for going to college plus an annual bus pass.  Natalia plans to study translation and interpretation so she can work officially as a translator / interpreter.

“The house is beautiful, but it needed freshening up, so we’ve bought paint and carpets to make it my house and my home,” said Natalia. “We also went shopping and bought household essentials and furnishings as well as smart clothes – jacket, shoes, blouses – for college and work.”

Monthly horse therapy is also helping to improve her mental health. “I grew up riding farm horses and am absolutely mad about horses. I am scared to death when I’m sitting on the horse but the horse they give me is so kind. It is definitely good for my mental health. It gives me a lot of satisfaction, a fresh mind and makes me smile all the time,” said Natalia.

“The people at TLA have been very kind. They are just normal people but understanding and very professional. It’s been good to be able to talk to them about what’s happened and they are supporting me as I move forward.”

* Client’s name / images may have been changed to protect their privacy.