Guidance

Residential Women's Centres

Information about Residential Women's Centres.

Applies to England and Wales

Residential Women’s Centres (RWC) are part of the government’s plan to address the root cause of women’s offending behaviour and reduce reoffending in England and Wales.

They are specifically designed to address the fact many women who commit low-level crimes, such as shoplifting, and minor drug and alcohol-fuelled crimes, are driven by underlying and complex factors. Statistics show more than 60 per cent of women in custody have reported experience of domestic abuse, up to a third have been victims of sexual assault, and 50 per cent have drugs misuse needs.

Women who attend Residential Women’s Centres will receive one-to-one mental health therapy, counselling to address their trauma from previous abuse and support to overcome addictions. The service will also provide longer-term support for women to help them find a job and maintain family relationships as they transition from the centre to life back in their communities, to help prevent reoffending.

Centres will be run by the Probation Service and during their stay and the women must agree to work with the staff and comply with the no alcohol or illegal drugs policy.

Swansea Residential Women’s Centre

The first RWC is due to open in Swansea subject to planning permission.

Swansea Residential Women's Centre

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmppscommunications@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Swansea Residential Women's Centre (Welsh)

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email hmppscommunications@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Updates to this page

Published 18 August 2022
Last updated 23 August 2022 + show all updates
  1. Confirmation of planned opening date will be subject to planning permission.

  2. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page