The purpose-built home will provide a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic abuse

Two houses to be built, after target to build one house was reached in just a few weeks

The Independent has today announced that its Brick by Brick campaign, launched in partnership with leading charity Refuge, has completed the construction of its first safe house, purpose-built for women and their children escaping domestic abuse. 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 was launched by The Independent 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. And yet, 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.

The Brick by Brick campaign secured support from Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the likes of Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Keir Starmer, Olivia Colman, Dame Joanna Lumley, Ranvir Singh, Andi Oliver, Nikita Kanda, Dermot O’Leary, Rylan Clark, Victoria Derbyshire, David Morrissey, Jung Chang, Penny Mordaunt, Cherie Blair, Sharon Gaffka, Anna Whitehouse and Joely Richardson.

The completed home – the location of which is confidential – is semi-detached, with a living room, open-plan kitchen and dining room as well as a private garden. It also includes a number of safety features, including CCTV, a fireproof letterbox and enhanced locking features on windows and doors.

As part of its long-standing commitment to social justice, The Independent has partnered with Refuge since 2023, raising awareness of its work and donating advertising to support its services. Brick by Brick has focused upon the publication of news and features highlighting the realities of domestic abuse and Refuge’s life-changing work, as well as advertising and signposting across all of The Independent’s channels.

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.”

Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: “Today marks an important milestone in our partnership with the Independent, with the completion of the first of two safe houses built with funds raised through our Brick by Brick campaign. This house will offer a safe, supportive space for survivors of domestic abuse, giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives free from fear.

“We are incredibly grateful to all those who donated, raised awareness, and supported Brick by Brick. This achievement is not just about the physical building, but the new beginning it represents for women and children who desperately need it.

“While today is a cause for celebration, the reality is that domestic abuse continues to devastate lives. This is just the first step, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure that more survivors have access to safe spaces and expert support to overcome the impact of abuse.”

Anthony Vigor, Chair of the Trustees for the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be handing over the keys to the first Refuge home built by Persimmon. It has been a real privilege to be involved with this project and the life changing benefits it will deliver. Everyone has a right to feel safe and we are pleased that this home will shortly become a much-needed sanctuary for a family surviving domestic abuse.”