Support and advice Domestic violence You are not alone We can help you get the support you need If you or your children are in immediate danger call the police on 999 Non emergency contact numbers: National domestic violence 24 hour helpline 0808 2000247 SBHA customer services 0800 9170839 Out of hours emergency line 0800 0886699
What is domestic violence? How can we help you? What is domestic violence? Domestic violence (DV) can affect anyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality, class, disability or lifestyle. We follow the government definition of domestic violence which is: Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. This includes issues such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and so called honour killings. Examples include: Physical abuse such as slapping, pushing, kicking, punching and stabbing, attempted murder or murder. Sexual abuse such as rape and non consensual sex acts. Emotional or psychological abuse e.g. intimidation, isolation, verbal abuse, humiliation, degradation, not allowing friends or relatives to visit or phone. Destruction of belongings or threat of legal sanctions such as deportation or custody of children. Financial abuse, denial of rights or restriction of personal freedom such as withholding money or medical help. Reporting If you live in one of our properties and are suffering from domestic violence we can offer you support and advice. You should report the abuse to your neighbourhood action team officer. You can phone them on 020 8996 4222 or 0800 9170839 or come to Mulliner House (address on back page) and ask to speak to an officer. We will always keep your details confidential and respect your privacy. You can request and speak to someone of the same gender as you. If you are reporting the abuse over the phone we will invite you to Mulliner House for an interview or to an alternative safe place away from our office at a time and date that is comfortable for you. We will discuss with you all your options and what we can do to help. Once you have decided on what you want to do, your neighbourhood action team officer will give you information on agencies who will also be able to offer you support. The police receive a DV call every minute in the UK. One in four women and one in 10 men will experience DV at some point throughout their lifetime.
How can we help you? Where to get help Emergency accommodation Because we have a limited supply of available homes, it is very unlikely that we will be able to offer you emergency accommodation. If you are in danger, we will support you to attend the local authority or a refuge who will be able to provide you and your children with somewhere to stay if you are not able to return home. If you are worried about leaving pets in your property with the perpetrator, we can help you find temporary foster care for your animals. Staying within the property If you decide that you wish to remain in your property, it is important that we explore steps to ensure that is secure and that you feel safe. We may be able to provide you with extra security for you and your home, such as a personal alarm or a security gate. We can also refer you to our sanctuary programme which may be able to provide you with a range of security measures. Alternatively we can refer you to your local authority s sanctuary programme. External agencies We can refer you to outside support groups and agencies who will be able to provide you with additional help. We also have links with solicitors who will be able to provide you with independent legal advice. If you or someone you know is suffering from DV there are organisations who will be able to help, support and offer you advice. If you are a neighbour or a friend and have concerns you should contact us. We will treat your report with the strictest of confidence. SBHA SBHA neighbourhood action team 020 8996 4222 SBHA customer services 0800 917 0839 National numbers National Centre for Domestic Violence National Domestic Violence 24 hour helpline Police emergency 999 Police non-emergency 101 0844 8044 999 or text NCDV to 60777 0808 2000 247 Victim Support 0845 3030900 Websites Refuge Women s Aid www.refuge.org.uk www.womensaid.org.uk Help for perpetrators of domestic violence to end their violence Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) 020 7401 7278 info@dvip.org Respect 0808 802 4040 www.respect.uk.net
Where to get help If you cannot return home Other organisations Advance (Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Westminster & Kensington and Chelsea) Rights of Women Offering legal advice to women experiencing domestic violence. Westside Support Services Male victims of domestic violence 020 8563 2225 admin@advanceadvocacyproject. org.uk 020 7251 6577 Women and Girls Network 020 7610 4345 Men s Advice Line 07771 905306 westside.support@sbhg.co.uk 0808 8010327 info@mensadviceline.org.uk Mankind UK 01273 510 447 Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender victims of domestic violence Broken Rainbow 08425 60 44 60 www.broken-rainbow.org.uk Support and help lines for people from multicultural backgrounds Southall Black Sisters 020 8571 0800 Aanchal (support to women of South Asian origin) 0845 4512547 Jewish Women's Aid 0808 8010500 You may decide that you are unable to return home. You can contact any local authority in the UK for emergency accommodation. Below are the local authorities we work within. Your neighbourhood action team officer can get contact information for any other part of the country. Brent Housing Advice Service 020 8937 2000 Ealing Housing Advice 020 8825 8888 Hammersmith and Fulham Housing Advice 0845 313 3935 Harrow Housing Advice 020 8424 1093 Hillingdon Housing Advice 01895 250111 Hounslow Housing Advice 0800 0856575 Kensington and Chelsea Housing Advice 020 7361 3008 Kingston Housing Advice 020 8547 5003 Richmond Housing Advice 0800 0322 433 Wandsworth Housing Advice 020 8871 6840 Westminster Housing Advice 020 7641 1000 On average, two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner.
All our publications are available in other languages, larger formats, Braille or audio. To make a request please phone customer services on 0800 9170839. Shepherds Bush Housing Group Mulliner House, Flanders Road Chiswick, London W4 1NN Phone 020 8996 4200 or 0800 9170839 Email group.info@sbhg.co.uk Website www.sbhg.co.uk November 2011