Ripon House Approved Premises for Women

Will I have a single room?
We have 13 single rooms and 6 which take two residents. Unless we are very full, the chances are you will be in a room of your own. If not, we will move you to a single room as soon as possible if that's what you want.

Are there men at Ripon House?
Ripon House is a women's hostel. However, there are some male members of staff.

Does Ripon House have a lot of rules?
The rules are outlined on the next page. We try not to have unnecessary rules but we do need some rules so that everybody can get along with each other and we don't cause problems with the neighbourhood.

Do I have to pay rent?
Yes. The current weekly charge is £39 if working or £26 if not. This covers your accommodation, breakfast and an evening meal.

Can I have visitors at the hostel?
Ripon House is not well equipped to deal with visitors and most people prefer to meet friends in town. However, family members can visit the hostel.

Is there a curfew?
Yes. All residents have to be in the hostel between 11pm and 6am. Some have bail or licence conditions with longer curfew times.

What help can I expect from Ripon House?
When you get here, you will get a linkworker. It is your linkworker's job to work with you to help sort out any problems you may have. You and your linkworker will agree a supervision plan which is likely to include you attendance at some of the programmes offered here. We also have a female doctor who holds a surgery at the hostel every week and if you have a substance misuse problem you will be required to see our Addiction Therapist. Your linkworker will also be able to refer you to a wide range of resources in the community.

How will I get to Ripon House?
There are good bus and train services to Leeds. The best way to get from the city centre is to use the Free Bus which stops at various points around the city including the bus and train stations. Ask them to let you off on Clarendon Road after Park Lane College. The hostel is about 250 yards up the hill on the same side.

I have been told that the hostel is not very good.
Some people like to wind others up but don't take our word for it. This is what our residents say:

Whilst I was in prison it was recommended that my parole would be granted if I stayed at Ripon House. I was so stressed and worried about going to a hostel. When I did arrive I found the accommodation is excellent and is very clean. All staff work well at putting you at your ease. I have had great support which has helped me to move on and I am due to move into my own accommodation soon. The staff are here to help you if you are willing to help yourself. There is also great support with any addictions you may have. I would recommend Ripon House to other female inmates as a good stepping stone to rebuilding your future.
Sandy.

When I was first told that I would have to go to Ripon House on release from prison I thought "No way!". I would have rather stayed in jail. The stories I had heard about hostels were not very good. But I can honestly say that Ripon House is not a bad place to be. The staff and residents are all friendly, it is very clean and tidy and there is a lot of help and support for people that need it.
Kelly.

The first time I was meant to come to Ripon House I left prison, walked to the police station, refused to come to the hostel, and breached my licence deliberately. I served a further 9 months as a result. This time when I was released on licence I came to the hostel. It is friendly, the staff are helpful but most of all I am still here 3 months later. So the hostel isn't as bad as it is made out in prison.
Tara.

I wasn't told anything bad about Ripon House. I didn't know what to expect so I was a bit scared about coming here. I have now been here for 7 months and it is nowhere near as bad as I was expecting it to be. The good points about being here outweigh the bad, as long as you follow the rules you're ok. I would much rather be here than in prison. I've still got my freedom to come and go as I please as long as I am in for 11pm. There are different groups which you can join such as Esteem, Arts & Crafts etc and if you are into gardening Ripon House has a very nice large back garden to enjoy.
Margaret.

When you arrive at Ripon House you will be given an induction which will last between 30 minutes and 1 hour. At the induction we will show you your room and around the hostel. There are also various bits of paperwork we have to complete.

You will probably have many more questions and we will try to answer them when you are here. We promise you that if you want to make positive changes in your life, staff will do their best to help you. We will treat you with respect and understanding. We know that things will not always be easy but we also know that everybody has the ability to make positive changes. We look forward to seeing you.

RIPON HOUSE - GIVING WOMEN A BETTER DEAL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.