Why the need for a private space?

Imagine you have been conditioned to constantly look over your shoulder in fear. Consider how ashamed you might feel knowing how you might be judged for “getting yourself into this trap”. Womanzone understands this dilemma, and wanted to ensure women feel they can talk to us, about everything, without fear. This means privacy is important.

People often get “privacy” mixed up with “confidentiality”. Confidentiality is about not passing on personal information carelessly. The definition of privacy is different: “seclusion, privateness, solitude, isolation, peace, quietness, lack of disturbance, lack of interruption, freedom from interference”.

Confidentiality can be assured in any setting from a prison cell to a hospital consulting room. Privacy can’t be provided in many settings unless we understand women’s needs for comfort and intimacy in their environment, helping them reveal more than we see on the surface.

Women who are already coping with trauma should never feel ashamed. We opened the Living Room flat to overcome this challenge. The safe, silent environment of the flat allows them to open up completely without fear of being judged and, ultimately, allows us to find the best way to help.

Private should also mean personal

We have noticed the private spaces that many services provide are often the least welcoming. Why would we want to share our deepest hurt in a depersonalised, institutional place? The Living Room is a perfect antidote – it does actually look like a living room!

The Living Room – from builder’s hut to sanctuary

Last November Womanzone was given a flat in Dumbiedykes, just across the road from Serenity Café, which had been abandoned for a decade. The flat was run down, filthy and unsafe.

In the beginning, community members banded together to clean it up. We owe special thanks to some of the handy men in our community – Stevie Mac, Stephen P and Stevie G refurbished the walls and floor, the electrics and the layout. They also wanted women like their mums, sisters and partners to know Womanzone is there for them when they need it. Cala Homes provided a kitchen and front door, and Behar provided carpets. It was like DIY SOS without the cameras. More donations started to come in such as chairs, kitchen equipment and sofas, and the flat was almost ready.

In February 2015, after 4 months of hard work, we launched the ‘Living Room’ Programme. This is a programme of individual support, group work and activities for women in recovery from addiction, domestic abuse, poor mental wellbeing and trauma.

We meet women in this private space to help them talk and recover. We also run various community groups at the flat. Art groups, cooking lessons and herbalism workshops are just a few of the activities that regularly take place. There was even space for one of our members to set up her recycled crafts workshop.

What women have said about the Living Room

"Fiona that does the massages really has healing hands. It's so calm and relaxing getting a massage, I can't wait to come back."

"I really like the cooking classes. We couldn't have that in the café!"