Liberty Links Craven is a mobile provision that is transforming lives in rural communities. In response to the growing need for tailored support for women affected by domestic abuse in rural areas, Liberty Links Craven was launched to bridge the gap between individuals experiencing isolation and essential services. This initiative built on the success of the original Liberty Links van, which, since its debut in 2023, had supported numerous women and girls in Ryedale, East Yorkshire.
The need for such a project was clear. Women in rural communities often faced unique challenges, including geographic isolation, limited access to specialist services, and significant barriers to engagement with mainstream resources. These factors not only increased their vulnerability but also made it harder for them to seek help. Traditional approaches often fell short, leaving many women without the support they desperately needed.
Funded by the York and North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning (OPFCC), Liberty Links Craven has made a significant impact by providing a mobile, gender-specific space where professionals offer direct support to women in their communities. Through “Libby,” the welcoming camper van that visited towns like Skipton, Bentham, Settle, and Grassington, 414 women in Ryedale accessed advice and guidance, with 160 receiving enhanced, tailored support to help them overcome challenges and move forward with confidence.
This is a much-needed service for Craven, where access to tailored support for women has been limited. I’m pleased to see this provision in the area.
– Service Provider
Katy’s* story highlights the barriers faced by rural residents in accessing support that Liberty Links is addressing. Although her remote location and limited transport options made in-person support challenging, Katy received regular remote guidance through phone and text communication. While Liberty Links couldn’t fully address her needs, it provided ongoing emotional support throughout her journey and demonstrated the impact of isolation on access to critical services.
When you move to a new place, especially when it is to get away from a bad man you feel scared and alone, and when you have children, you must pretend to be happy all the time, it’s hard. The van coming is a calm, happy place for me to chat and drink coffee, you help me, but I can also forget for a little while. Thank you.
–Katy*, Liberty Links Craven Client
It’s a great service, it’s so needed. It’s a relief for us that we have someone we can send women to, we have so many that we’re worried about. Keep up the good work.
– Sue, Norton Foodbank
This innovative approach helped remove obstacles to engagement, offering a practical and compassionate way to address the unique challenges faced by rural women. By bringing services directly to them, Liberty Links Craven demonstrated the power of collaborative, empathetic outreach in transforming lives and fostering empowerment.
I feel very proud of the Liberty Links model and the team working on the projects. Liberty Links Ryedale has achieved remarkable results, and we expect similar success from the newly launched Liberty Links Craven project. Women accessing the rural service feel more informed, empowered, and connected, leading to improved well-being, engagement with support agencies, and improvements to problematic lifestyles and personal circumstances.
– Kelly Broadbent, Regional Services Manager