The Wigan Oak Hotel was one of our supported services for people experiencing homelessness. You can hear about the service and from Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham here:

As part of our co-production approach, colleagues and female customers held a walk-through of the service, using a tool that is part of the Gendered Lens Framework developed by Homeless Link. 

Women and colleagues in the service toured different parts of the building with a solution-focused approach- what could be achieved within the limitations of the space. Customers discussed where feels safe, less safe, the reasons why and what kind of response it invokes. 

Feedback highlighted that women felt safer neared to the office where staff were based, a need for female security staff and designated women-only area.  

As a result, improvements have been made to the lighting in various areas in the service, a weekly customer-led women-only support group has been facilitated, and other services in the region are looking to replicate the walk-through. 

This approach is being applied to other services in the areas, with various groups including women, young people, and asylum seekers.