Travel to Refuge: Life saving support for women and children​

In an effort to help domestic abuse survivors escape dangerous situations, the program Travel to Refuge now offers free train or coach travel to those fleeing domestic abuse, who have been given an offer of a place in refuge. This initiative, supported by Women’s Aid in partnership with the Rail Delivery Group and National Express, allows survivors to travel discreetly and without cost to reach emergency accommodation.

The Travel to Refuge scheme is composed of two parts:

• Rail to Refuge: Launched in April 2020, this initiative provides free train travel for domestic abuse survivors. It has been widely used across the UK since its inception, helping thousands of individuals escape immediate danger.
• Road to Refuge: Recently introduced in 2023, this program provides free coach travel, giving survivors a broader range of travel options. It is a collaboration between Women’s Aid and National Express, extending the reach of the scheme.

The scheme is designed to be as straightforward and discreet as possible. When a survivor reaches out to a domestic abuse service affiliated with Women’s Aid, Imkaan, Scottish Women’s Aid, Welsh Women’s Aid, or Respect Men’s Advice Line, the service assesses their needs. If appropriate, they are then referred to a refuge. Once a vacancy is confirmed, the service can book a free train or coach ticket, which can be sent directly to the survivor’s mobile phone as an e-ticket or as a text message. Survivors may also choose to collect their ticket at the station or have it sent to them by post.

A representative from Women’s Aid highlighted the significance of the program: “For many, the cost of travel is a significant barrier to accessing the support they need. Travel to Refuge removes this obstacle, enabling survivors to reach safety without worry, expense, or stigma.”

The anonymity of the travel process is essential. Survivors can travel using regular tickets without having to declare that their journey is part of an escape from domestic abuse. This preserves their dignity and ensures they can travel safely and without drawing unwanted attention.

The Importance of Public Support

While Travel to Refuge has been a tremendous step forward, the program relies heavily on public support. Donations help to keep the scheme operational, ensuring that no survivor is left without safe travel options when they need them most. Raising awareness of Travel to Refuge can help extend its reach to more survivors across the UK.

For those wishing to support Travel to Refuge, donations can be made to Women’s Aid. By contributing, the public can help provide survivors of domestic abuse with a critical lifeline—safe passage to a new beginning.

How to Help

To learn more or contribute to this lifesaving scheme, visit the Women’s Aid website. Every donation helps ensure that those affected by domestic abuse can access the resources they need, free from financial obstacles.