Our Story
About Us
Domestic abuse thrives in silence, particularly within certain cultural and faith communities. EmpowerSafe Space was founded to break that silence, offering a trauma-informed, culturally competent sanctuary for survivors across Havering, Barking & Dagenham, and Essex. We believe that everyone deserves to live free from fear, supported by professionals who truly understand their background, their community, and their specific needs.
Expertise Built on Trust
EmpowerSafe Space is founded and led by Joke Olonode and Bosede Adedoyin, dedicated practitioners with over 30 years of experience across health and social care, housing, and safeguarding. Having worked extensively in different setting for mental health, housing, autistic and learning disabilities support, and children's services, Joke and Bosede brings a rare, whole-family understanding to domestic abuse recovery. We believe that effective support must bridge the gap between health services, social care, housing, and community trust to provide truly holistic, wrap-around care.
Our Mission
Our primary mission is to provide safe, intersectional, and outcomes-focused support to adults escaping domestic abuse. We specialize in addressing the hidden silence within religious contexts, providing faith-sensitive care that safely separates spiritual belief from abusive behavior without judgment. Furthermore, our services are intentionally designed to be fully accessible, offering reasonable adjustments and communication-sensitive support tailored specifically for neurodivergent individuals.
Lasting Empowerment
We understand that counselling requires more than just a temporary safe space; it demands the tools for long-term independence. Unlike short-term crisis interventions, our programs focus heavily on sustainable recovery. Drawing on our extensive background in workforce development and adult care training, we actively support survivors into accredited learning pathways, employment opportunities, and financial independence programs to break the cycle of abuse permanently.
Reaching the Hard-to-Reach
Our reach extends deep into local communities, actively engaging with populations that traditional mainstream services often miss. Because our leadership is already embedded and trusted within local faith and cultural networks, we create safe environments for disclosure where survivors might otherwise fear stigma. By working collaboratively with community leaders, we promote robust safeguarding messages and ensure no survivor feels isolated when seeking help.
Our support doesn't end when residents move on from our care. We remain committed to their long-term success, offering continued assistance to ensure they stay moved on, thriving in their new, independent lives.
At EmpowerSafe Space, we are more than just a support service; we are a dedicated community advocating for healing, empowerment, and lasting change.
The Team
Meet the Team
Aisha Pastel
Outreach Coordinator
Aisha Pastel
Outreach Coordinator