A domestic abuse survivor is crowdfunding to create a women's refuge for other victims of violence.
Natalie Brown hopes to raise £150,000 to renovate a property she has bought in Rugby for the purpose.
If successful, the refuge would comprise seven en-suite rooms for women escaping abuse, addiction and homelessness as well as a communal area for workshops and childcare.
"My hope is it allows women to become bold, brave and beautiful," she said.
Ms Brown fled an abusive relationship 20 years ago and came to stay with her mother in Rugby.
"I was fortunate to go and live with my mum but not every woman has somewhere to go," she said. "That's why it's on my heart to do this."
Her plan is to create B3 Rugby which she hopes will become a blueprint for other refuges elsewhere.
The Victorian semi in Rugby town centre is in need of total renovation, Ms Brown said. "It's in quite a state."
Plans have been sent to Rugby Council and a contractor has been appointed to start work in January if successful.
The money raised will be spent on renovations and furnishing the rooms, Ms Brown said, "and getting it up to scratch for the women".
So far, Ms Brown, who runs an online lifestyle channel, has raised more than £10,000.
"My dream is that these women come in, carrying whatever challenges, but their lives are transformed and they're able to leave being a completely different person," she said.
Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk
Time With Natalie
Friends of Leamington Station celebrate 'outstanding' rating for its gardens des…
Keep an eye out for signs of county lines drug dealing, urge police
Coventry's Royal Bengal restaurant up for regional award
Man arrested after being linked to 'series of vehicle thefts' in the West Midlands
Say 'cheers' to Stratford Food Festival which is being served this weekend
West Midlands Gigafactory set to be one of the UK’s first Investment Zones
Treasury rejects U-turn on mini-budget despite turmoil
'Catastrophic' floods in Florida as hurricane lands
Revealed: Mental health unit's 'toxic culture' of abuse
I went undercover to expose abuse at mental health unit
What Tory MPs are saying about Kwarteng's future
Can my mortgage offer be withdrawn?
Americast: what to expect at the midterms
Nazanin cuts hair in support of Iran protests. Video
When are the next rail strikes?
'I was ready to buy a house, now I'm totally lost'
On the front line with Ukrainian troops in Kherson. Video
Shania Twain: I was touch and go with Covid
'I lost a lifetime's worth of savings'
How ordinary savers are being affected by failed investment schemes
Dark secrets in the seductive world of influencers
Can aspiring musician Sasha find her own way in life?
'I've always known a part of my story was missing'
Years after being adopted, Gerallt Wyn Jones searches for his birth parents
The student who handed out free cash
Mobeen Azhar investigates why Gurvin Singh was giving money to strangers
Stewart Lee takes on cancel culture… Video
Lewis Capaldi covers Britney Spears! Video
The plane crash that shocked the world. Video
A guide to the pound’s historic slide… Audio
© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
The domestic abuse survivor building a women's refuge in Rugby – BBC
Leave a comment
