Women’s refuge

Hi ladies.... just wondered if anybody has any experience of a women’s refuge with children.. by that I mean taking your own children with you (mine are 3 & 1) and could you give me any useful information as I am considering going to one.. I want a clean break as mental and emotional abuse has made me very unstable and I’ve sort of lost myself, I just want to focus on me and my children for a while and kind of shut off from the world.. what are your experiences? Pros/cons?