Our Minerva Community service provides dedicated support to women. We do this by working closely with the National Probation Service, as well as other statutory services like housing and health to get women all the help they need in one place. This includes emotional well-being, housing, domestic abuse, education, training and employment.
Advance’s Minerva Community service work in partnership with 11 local and national women’s service providers, alongside statutory agencies to provide support within women’s communities across the 6 regions of Hampshire, Kent, Thames Valley, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
Advance, in partnership with partner organisations, provides:
Targeted support and advocacy for women who experience barriers accessing statutory services such as housing and social services.
Intensive one-to-one support across all women’s rehabilitative needs
Safe, women-only spaces including in local hubs and one of our 8 women’s centres.
Access to tailored groups and workshops with specialist partner organisations including financial management, employability, mental health and domestic abuse
Prison in-reach and Through-the-Gate Support for women in custody within three months prior to their release.
Make a referral
Please note this is Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) service and therefore we cannot accept self-referrals.
If you are a probation worker, please contact the relevant service area:
Hampshire Minerva service (For referrers only):
023 938 78992
minerva_hampshire@advancecharity.org.uk
Kent Minerva service (For referrers only):
020 3096 6481
minerva_kent@advancecharity.org.uk
Thames Valley Minerva service (For referrers only):
020 8563 2225
minerva_thamesvalley@advancecharity.org.uk
Bedfordshire Minerva service (For referrers only):
01234 316 801
minerva_bedfordshire@advancecharity.org.uk
Essex and Hertfordshire Minerva service (For referrers only):
020 8563 2225
minerva_essexherts@advancecharity.org.uk
Marketing materials:
Groups and workshops
Women can access group-based support programmes in order to empower them to move forward with their lives and to challenge the stigma associated with women affected by the Criminal Justice System.
