Women's charity in Coventry needs new home due to demand

The charity provides long term support for women from St Margaret's Church on Walsgrave Road

A charity which helps women who have experienced exploitation and addiction said an increase in demand meant it must find new premises.

Kairos provides long term support for women in Coventry from a base in St Margaret's Church on Walsgrave Road but needs to relocate.

Hannah Coban from the charity said some women are missing out because their premises are not suitable.

Thirteen staff and 17 volunteers help 250 women a year, she said.

Ms Coban said the charity had outgrown its space.

The team help those affected by homelessness, domestic abuse, sexual violence and who have mental and physical health issues

"We're looking for our own building that is self-contained as we run women-only services," she said.

The charity would like a premises with large and small rooms for one-to-one support, a kitchen and a central location with access for those with mobility issues, she said.

The organisation is funded entirely through grants, without local authority support, and she appealed for help from any area or organisation.

"The council, any community leaders, any business or property developers who might be able to link us in with a space that they know we could rent or something they could help us develop..," she said.

Emily, not her real name, has received help from the charity and said the team was amazing.

"They've supported me through times when I've had no shopping, to times when I've just needed someone to talk to and when I've literally been at breaking point...and just giving me a better understanding of how things work in the real world, " she said.

Volunteer Holly Foster said the charity was a "magical place" and it was "incredible" to be able to give her time to help women.