The Connect Hub is a community support space for women, providing pathways away from and out of homelessness through support, connection and community. Delivering holistic support and care through trauma-informed practice, we are committed to embedding psychological safety for women to access avenues for growth and connection through group work programmes, and education and/or employability pathways. Centred around opportunities for development, wellbeing and connection, we work collaboratively with statutory and third sector organisations to ensure women can access the right support, in the right way, at the right time. Women’s voices remain central in shaping and directing our programmes and services – women with lived and living experience, our team and partners.
Our vision is for women to be supported in a safe place and able to access pathways for development that supports their wellbeing and growth, allowing them to move beyond homelessness and insecure housing situations. To do this, we:
Provideperson-centred, trauma informed support to women who access The Connect Hub.
Build trust, confidence and safety to alleviate the harms of homelessness for women.
Work relationally, recognising the barriers that women have faced over time in getting the right support, in the right way at the right time.
Connect women with support from partner organisations that are important to their lives and support their wellbeing. Our pathways seek to connect women with opportunities to use and build upon their skills.
Work to ensure every woman recognises the worth and value she brings to the world and can achieve a future that is defined by her own ambitions.
In all of our work with women we strive to respond to, prevent and resolve homelessness. We do this by:
Priotising a gendered approach and being gender informed: We recognise that homelessness requires a gendered lens. Women face unique challenges, specifically mothers and our services should be developed with women’s need in mind.
Working towards systemic change: We recognise where women have been systemically harmed and work to address the structural violence and discrimination women face navigating systems of care.
Providing opportunities and breaking down exclusion: We provide opportunities for women to move beyond their current circumstances. We work to alleviate the consequences and impact of poverty and support women to have what they need.
Ensuring women recognise their worth and value: We support women to recognise the worth and value of each woman we support, ensuring she has access to opportunities that will allow her to utilise her skills and learn and develop.
Providing immediate, practical support to prevent crisis intervention and support wellbeing: We provide practical support to women to link in with systems of care in a way that works for them. This includes housing, benefits, physical and mental health support, legal support and advocacy.
Placing relationships at the centre: We embed a relational approach, working alongside women for as long as she needs, at her pace and in a way that works best for her.
Where are we? We are based in Glasgow City Centre and have strong partnership links with organisations and services across the city. We will encourage and promote women to feel connected to their local community. For safety reasons, we have decided to protect the location of The Connect Hub and not display this publicly online. If you are a woman, service provider, or member of the community and feel you would like more information about The Connect Hub please get in touch with us at connecthub@simonscotland.org.
What support do we provide?
Clothing provision: Regular pop-up shops providing access to clothing and shoes as well as emergency provision of socks, gloves, hats and coats when available.
Period friendly point: Access to period products, as well as reusables and information related to reproductive health.
Shower access: Access to showering facilities, toiletries and towels.
Access to digital inclusion programmes and phone/computer access : Access to digital inclusion schemes, involving digital devices when available, access to the internet and training from a skilled Digital Champion. Women can utilise digital equipment on site to keep in contact with people important to them in their lives.
Emotional support: Our staff work relationally using a trauma-informed approach to ensure each woman has a safe space to be heard.
Activities: Daily activities focused on wellbeing, including yoga, pilates, arts and crafts and creative workshops (music, drama and creative writing).
Group work programmes to develop skills: Alongside women our teams have developed 6-12 week programmes for women to develop their skills, access peer support, and increase their knowledge and awareness of harm reducing practices, gambling, and women’s health.
You can access a copy of our weekly schedule here.
