Supporting women to rebuild their lives
At Maa Shanti, we believe that support should be about more than getting through a crisis.
We support South Asian women affected by domestic abuse to find greater safety, stability and independence. Through practical advocacy, emotional support, peer connection and opportunities to build confidence, we help women navigate the challenges they are facing and begin to rebuild their lives.
Every woman’s circumstances are different. Some need help finding somewhere safe to live. Others need support with benefits, immigration, finances or employment. For many women, simply having a safe and welcoming place where they can talk openly with someone who understands can be an important first step.
Our support is responsive to where each woman is in her life and can continue as her circumstances change.
Our impact at a glance – 2025
Women supported
Cases resolved
Activities delivered
Women secured housing
Women obtained benefits
Women moved into employment
Women progressed into education or training
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What difference do we make?
Safety and stability
Domestic abuse can affect every part of a woman’s life. We provide practical advocacy to help women understand their options and access the support they need.
This can include support with housing, benefits, immigration, financial issues and safety planning. We also work with other services and advocate on women’s behalf when they need additional support to access their rights.
Confidence and independence
The impact of domestic abuse can leave women feeling isolated, uncertain and lacking confidence in their ability to make decisions for themselves.
Our support helps women understand their choices, make informed decisions and take steps towards greater independence. This might mean securing employment, accessing education or training, managing finances or simply beginning to feel confident navigating everyday life again
Connection and wellbeing
Isolation is a common experience for women affected by domestic abuse, particularly when they have been separated from family, friends or their wider community.
Our peer support groups, activities and community-based sessions give women opportunities to meet others, build relationships and feel less alone.
For many women, Maa Shanti becomes a place where they feel safe, welcomed and understood.
Longer-term change
We don’t see support as a short-term intervention. A woman’s circumstances can continue to change long after the immediate crisis has passed, and we remain there to provide support as she moves forward.
Our aim is to help women move towards greater safety, confidence, stability and independence at a pace that works for them.
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Stories from women we support
Behind every statistic is a woman with her own experiences, challenges and hopes for the future.
These stories show some of the ways Maa Shanti’s support can make a difference.
Names and identifying details have been changed or removed to protect confidentiality.
From crisis to independence
When one woman first came to Maa Shanti, she was experiencing emotional and financial abuse and was unsure whether she was ready to leave her husband.
We provided a safe space for her to talk and helped her access benefits. When the abuse became physical, she decided to separate. We then supported her with immigration, benefits, housing, council tax and counselling.
When she was later at risk of being moved away from her support network, Maa Shanti advocated on her behalf and helped her remain in London.
With greater stability, she began thinking about employment. We helped her prepare a CV, explore opportunities and apply for jobs. She secured part-time work and is now considering increasing her hours.
She continues to attend Maa Shanti sessions and says she feels much more confident.
“They helped build my confidence and encouraged me to be independent.”
From isolation to safety
When a young mother was referred to Maa Shanti, she had fled domestic abuse and was living in temporary accommodation with her baby. She had very little English and no friends or family nearby. She was so isolated that she was frightened to leave her accommodation or travel to our office.
Another Maa Shanti client accompanied her to her first appointment, helping her take that first step.
We then worked with her to rebuild her support network, liaising with health visitors and family support services, translating communications and helping her access essential items for herself and her baby.
She was also supported to access specialist counselling and develop her confidence in caring for her baby and travelling independently.
When her accommodation later became unsafe, we raised safeguarding concerns and continued to support her. Eventually, she moved into more suitable accommodation and was granted leave to remain in the UK.
Today, she is settled in her own home, caring for her baby and beginning to build a future in safety.
Finding stability and hope
One woman came to Maa Shanti during a very difficult period in her life. She needed emotional support alongside help with housing and issues relating to her children.
We provided consistent emotional support and practical advocacy, helping her access legal support, attending meetings with social services and working alongside other organisations supporting her.
Maa Shanti also gave her a safe and welcoming space where she could talk openly and feel listened to. During a particularly stressful period, our activities and trips provided opportunities for connection and positivity.
Financial difficulties were another concern. Through Maa Shanti, she received support towards essential furniture, helping her prepare for a more stable home for herself and her children.
After two years of support, she moved into a three-bedroom home with her children. She told us that her mental health had improved significantly and that her children were happier and more settled.
“My mental health has improved so much. I will never forget what Maa Shanti has done for me and my children.”
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What women tell us
The women who use our services tell us that Maa Shanti makes a real difference to their lives.
In our Winter 2025:
%
Said Maa Shanti had improved their overall situation.
%
Said they were better able to support their children.
%
Said they experienced less loneliness.
%
Said they had gained knowledge that was useful to them.
%
Said their confidence had increased.
These figures are important to us, but so are the individual experiences behind them. We use feedback from women to understand what is working, where we can improve and what support women need from us.
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Why our approach matters
South Asian women affected by domestic abuse can face additional barriers when seeking help, including language barriers, immigration concerns, financial dependence, isolation, family and community pressure and fears about the consequences of leaving.
Our specialist approach means women can access support from people who understand these experiences and the communities in which they live.
We provide support in Bengali, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi, alongside English, and offer a welcoming environment where women can talk openly without fear of judgement.
Our work is about recognising the whole woman, not just the immediate crisis she is facing.
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Looking ahead
We know that there is still significant unmet need.
We want to continue strengthening our support for South Asian women affected by domestic abuse, reaching women who may otherwise struggle to access services and creating more opportunities for women to build connections, confidence and independence.
Our ambition is simple: that every woman who comes to Maa Shanti feels heard, supported and better able to shape her own future.
Please help us continue this work.
Your donation can help Maa Shanti continue providing specialist support to South Asian women affected by domestic abuse, helping more women feel heard, supported and able to shape their own future.
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