‘The anxieties just lift’: why domestic abuse refuges are turning to female tradespeople

With construction overwhelmingly male, Refuge says tradeswomen help survivors of abuse feel safer One of the main challenges in maintaining the 64 homes for domestic abuse survivors run by Refuge is the reliance on a male-dominated workforce of electricians, plumbers and decorators. “The presence of men can be distressing and could trigger past traumas for our survivors,” said Lisa Cantwell-Hope, the head of property services at the charity. “Male contractors need an escort to make our surviv...

By Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent