Trust
We foster trust through honesty, consistency, and the creation of safe, respectful relationships. Trust is the cornerstone of healing and transformation.
The Gilgal Approach
We are Gilgal Birmingham, a dedicated women’s refuge providing safe, supportive accommodation and holistic services for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
Gilgal is a safe space, where women and children are seen, heard and supported. The Gilgal Approach embodies a trauma-informed and strengths-based practice, grounded in intersectional and community-based feminist principles.
Women and children receive practical and emotional support to empower them to heal, recover, and rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence.
Our Vision
At Gilgal, we envision a society where women and children are safe, valued, and live free from the fear of domestic abuse. We believe that freedom, safety, and healing are fundamental rights. We walk alongside women in crisis today, but we are committed to challenging the systems and attitudes that enable abuse, working towards transformation and lasting change.
Our Mission
Gilgal aims to ensure that all women and children experiencing domestic abuse, and those at risk, have a safe place to live.
Gilgal empowers women and children through specialised support and opportunities for healing, growth, and community-building. Equipping them to achieve independence, confidence, and lasting connection.
Our values
Safety
We prioritise physical and emotional safety as essential foundations for growth. Our environment is trauma-informed strengths based and feminist.
Collaboration
We believe in working with women and their children – not doing to them. Through partnerships, co-production, and shared decision-making, we ensure that every voice is heard and valued.
Inclusive
We welcome women and children from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities. We create environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected – ensuring that our services are equitable, accessible, and free from discrimination.
Empowerment
We support women and their children in reclaiming autonomy and leading independent, self-directed lives. Our programs are designed to build confidence, skills, and long-term resilience.
Our strategic goals
This strategy reflects a period of transition for Gilgal. Over the next 12 months, we are taking time to strengthen our foundations – prioritising good governance and best practice, reviewing risk management, and creating space to reflect upon what we have learned from recent challenges.
We aim to position the organisation for greater long-term stability and impact. This is a moment to reset with clarity and purpose – ensuring we remain financially resilient, responsive, and ready to grow.
Find out how we’re achieving our goals and catch up on refuge news and discover expert help in the Gilgal blog.
Maintain a safe, welcoming refuge through strong governance, compliance, and safeguarding. Ensuring trust, accountability, and a healing environment for every woman we support.
Champion a whole-systems approach to preventing domestic abuse through public campaigns, community outreach, and strategic leadership. Ensuring our voice shapes local policy and strengthens community responses.
We will empower women to build lasting independence by providing survivor centred support that strengthens confidence, life skills, and access to safe housing, education, employment, and community networks. To ensure they are equipped to move forward with autonomy and resilience.
Define and embed “The Gilgal Approach” as a feminist, trauma-informed, strengths-based, and co-produced model that is centred on dignity, empowerment, and the belief that every woman has the right and the capacity to rebuild her life.
As part of this approach, we aim to foster a supportive and reflective organisational culture that prioritises the wellbeing, resilience, and professional growth of our staff.
We will take steps to diversify our income streams, become financially resilient, and increasingly self-sufficient.
These steps will include a reviewed approach to grants and trusts, corporate partners and fundraisers, and in-house community fundraising projects like our Charity Shop.