The property was built by Persimmon Homes, marking the first time the national housebuilder has constructed a house specifically for domestic abuse survivors.
Brick by Brick launched in September 2024 in response to the nationwide domestic abuse crisis. In England and Wales, one in four women will be affected by domestic abuse, while on average one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every five days. Each week, approximately three women die by suicide as a result of domestic abuse and every two minutes someone turns to Refuge for help. Despite this, tragically, every two hours a woman is turned away from an overburdened communal refuge with nowhere else to turn.
This is the first of two identical houses being funded by the Brick by Brick campaign and constructed by Persimmon Homes. The homes are aimed primarily at supporting women who can’t be accommodated by communal refuges due to the lack of capacity and personal circumstances. Due to the phenomenal response to the appeal from generous readers and supporters — reaching the initial target in just a few weeks — the aim to build one home was extended to two, doubling the number of women and children who will be helped out of abuse and into new, safe futures.
Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, said: “This is a monumental achievement, and I’m immensely proud of the role our readers and supporters have played in building this house Brick by Brick.
“Together with Refuge and Persimmon Homes, we have delivered a state-of-the-art property which will provide sanctuary for countless vulnerable women and children.
“There’s more to come with the construction of the second home well underway, and we will continue to use every means at our disposal to increase awareness of this national crisis and create lasting change.”
