The following are stories of young people we have worked with. Names and personal details have been changed to avoid identifying them.


Jessica’s Story


I called the refuge from school after a bad fight with my dad. We would fight a lot and dad used to threaten me. I was scared that this time he would go through with it and so I told my teacher I wasn't going home and she told me about the refuge. Some of the staff came to meet me and told me that it was possible to stay for up to 7 days and that it was at a secret place. That made me feel safe cuz I knew dad couldn't find me.
During my time in refuge I told them what was happening and they helped me to tell social work. I now stay with my uncle, which is better.

Daniel's Story

My name is Daniel, I called the refuge after my mum chucked me out after a fight. That used to happen a lot when we argued and she even hit me once. I couldn't stay anywhere else so I went to the refuge. I found it a bit weird at first as they were interested in hearing about my feelings and how I was and I'm not used to that. I didn't really want to go home, but Refuge helped me and my mum to look at the way we talk to each other and we made a contract to try and help things at home. After refuge they gave me an outreach worker who I met with every week to talk about my anger and to make sure things were going OK. I feel more positive now.


Surinder's Story

My name is Surinder I'm 15 and from England. Me and dad have argued a lot as he wants me to have an arranged marriage and I don't want one. About a year ago I thought he was planning one, so I travelled to Glasgow where I have some friends he doesn't know. After a few days I thought I was getting in the way so I went to the Police and told them what had happened. I was too scared to go home and they told me about the Refuge where I could stay for a few days while I tried to figure things out. It sounded a bit scary but OK so the police phoned them and one of the workers came out to see me and told me a bit more about Refuge which made me feel less scared.
I stayed at the Refuge for 4 days and the staff there helped me to talk to my aunt who I'm really close to. She told me that dad wasn't arranging a marriage for me. I was still a bit worried about this so Refuge staff also called social work in my area and the police who both agreed to keep an eye on things and help me. I decided to go home and my aunt came and got me and took me home.

Some comments by Young People about their experience in refuge:

"it is a very good place and you feel safe"
"the staff are really nice and helpful"
"I've eaten better, drank less and slept better"
"Thankyou for everything you have done for me and my family"
"I started to go back to school"

Young People's suggestions on how we could change ROC for the better:

"It's great the way it is"
"later bedtimes"
"just keep doing what you are doing"