About Alana House
Alana House is a community project run by PACT that uses a holistic and trauma-informed approach to support and empower women facing multiple disadvantages.
We offer a confidential, women-only, non-judgemental space and welcome all women who feel they need help, support and advice.
Alana House has a women-only centre in Reading but we also provide outreach services across Berkshire.
Alana House Reading opened in April 2010, adopting the recommendations from the Corston Report, which identified nine pathways of support and the trauma-informed approach needed to support women.
Initially established to support women who had committed offences but were often victims of trauma themselves, Alana House has developed over the years to support all women with multiple or complex needs who are looking for support to help make positive life changes.
Alana House has a women-only centre in Reading but we also provide outreach services across Berkshire.
Alana House Reading opened in April 2010, adopting the recommendations from the Corston Report, which identified nine pathways of support and the trauma-informed approach needed to support women.
Initially established to support women who had committed offences but were often victims of trauma themselves, Alana House has developed over the years to support all women with multiple or complex needs who are looking for support to help make positive life changes.
Watch this short film to find out more about Alana House
The Nine Pathways
Our Aims
We explore these pathways to bring about positive change by:
- Empowering women to reflect on their lives and make a plan to address their needs, increasing their independence and facilitating their access to mainstream services.
- Addressing the individual barriers to employment, education and training.
- Diverting women from custody by addressing the causes of crime and therefore reducing the impact on the community.
- Providing opportunities to access benefit and welfare advice, NHS sexual health treatment, housing and specialist drug and alcohol advice, in one safe place.
How do we help?
Alana House meets women at their point of need and supports them to identify and work towards individual goals. We support women through individual keywork, group work, drop-in sessions, outreach, partnership with specialist agencies and partner agency-led courses and information sessions. Alana House also enables women to access practical help with washing, shower facilities, food supplies and computer use.
Alana House is committed to valuing diversity, promoting equality of opportunity for all and ensuring that our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. We will take a person-centred and case-by-case approach. We are able to support:
- Women who are assigned female gender at birth
- Individuals who have acquired female gender through the statutory gender recognition process
- Transgender women including non-binary people and people transitioning to become female. As we provide a safe space for women, men are not permitted on site and therefore we are not able to support non-binary people who were assigned male gender at birth
For more details on our approach to supporting transgender and non-binary service users, read our Transgender Policy here.
To access our services, women need to be referred to Alana House. Voluntary or community-based organisations can refer women to our services or women can choose to refer themselves.
Once someone has been referred to Alana House and our team has accepted the referral, they can begin accessing support. We run a programme of groups and sessions to best meet the needs of those who use our services. Details of which groups are currently running for service users can be found in our calendar. To book onto any group or session, women will need to speak to their assigned Alana House support worker.
Find out what’s on at Alana House
Women who have been referred to our services can access a range of groups and activities
See the impact of our work
“When I started working with [my support worker], I was in a really bad place in my life… I really didn’t know what to expect from yet another professional coming into my space. In time I learnt to trust her. I knew that she was genuinely there for me and she was giving me a voice.” – Alana House service user
Learn more
“When I started working with [my support worker], I was in a really bad place in my life… I really didn’t know what to expect from yet another professional coming into my space. In time I learnt to trust her. I knew that she was genuinely there for me and she was giving me a voice.” – Alana House service user
I couldn’t recommend Alana House enough, since working with you all I have felt so supported which has helped me manage my situation. I’m able to rationalise my thought processes and accept that this time of my life will pass as long as I continue to be self-sufficient. It has helped me accept that life is full of ups and downs but it’s the way you respond to them that makes the difference. I will continue to recommend Alana House to my friends that are having a difficult time because I honestly don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t linked in with you. Thank you so much for everything.
Katie, Alana House service user
If you’d asked me where I would have been two years ago, I’d probably have hit the deck by now. But I haven’t, I’ve turned my life around and actually made something of myself. And I would recommend anyone to come here with anything they want help with. It’s changed my life for me.
Maxine, Alana House service user
Alana House is a really good use of resources and it’s amazing to see the women’s self-respect grow and grow. If I was that person coming here to seek help, I would think that someone thinks I’m worth doing this for. …….
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Alana House is highly regarded and valued by a range of professional agencies as it achieves impressive results for these women that can often be life changing. The fact that there is no other service of its kind in the area makes it even more vital and a service that I feel plays a key role in tackling crime prevention in both the immediate and longer term.
Suzanna Rose, High Sherriff Berkshire 2013/14
Whenever I have a problem, I know I can come to Alana House and they can help me and let me know what to do. They are like family and I am proud to be a service user. When I am with Alana House, I feel free.
Amira, Alana House service user
Without Alana House I would have found it hard to build on my confidence and make my circumstances better. Alana House has given me the tools to live independently and to better manage my finances.
Malisa, Alana House service user
(Alana House) is a really good use of resources… and it’s amazing to see the women’s self-respect grow and grow. If I was that person coming here to seek help, I would think that someone thinks I’m worth doing this for.
Her Honour Judge Zoe Smith, Reading Crown Court
Since my seven months of support, Alana House has boosted by confidence and supported me through many activities that have been provided. I do not know what I would do without them. Thank you so much for your support.
Lorraine, Alana House service user
I have hope again now, which I didn’t have before.
Alice, Alana House service user
Coming to Alana House has made me feel safer, and that I am not alone. If there’s something I need help with I know I can have someone to talk to or to support me. I have recently put up my own Christmas tree in my own home for the first time even, and I feel like it’s a dream come true. I know I am on a positive path now because of the support I have, which I have never had before.
Jenny, Alana House service user
To be honest, the way I was, if I hadn’t found Alana House I think something very bad would have happened. Everything was going wrong and I couldn’t see a way out, but I was determined and I got the help I needed to rebuild. Through doing that it has actually made me realise how strong I am and I am determined to do great things.
Leona, Alana House service user
With anxiety, the more support you have the better. No one should be alone, at Alana House there are people there. Helpful smiley people. Alana House is somewhere I can come at my saddest and at my happiest.
Ruth, Alana House service user
I feel safe knowing that Alana House is always on the other end of the phone… You have helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Beverley, Alana House service user
Endorsements
Howard League for Penal Reform Award
Alana House has twice won a prestigious national ‘Howard League for Penal Reform’ award, acknowledging the positive impact it has on the women it supports and their wider communities. In 2017 the award was for the Enrich Project, a partnership programme run with Thames Valley Police, ‘Change, Grow, Live’ drug and alcohol service and Reading Borough Council’s ‘Troubled Families’ service.
Alana House was also nominated for the Howard League award in 2019 for its ‘Job Skills’ course, which works with women to build confidence and give practical advice as they seek employment.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
In 2022, Alana House was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The Queen’s Award is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. The award recognises outstanding work by local volunteer groups to benefit their communities.
Our partners
