Domestic abuse - Support for victims

Support for victims of domestic abuse, children and young people, people who are abusive and information to help those you are worried about.

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Nobody has the right to abuse you physical, emotionally, sexually or financially. You are not alone and there is help for you.

Regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identification, age, disability, culture, ethnicity or religion, you do not have to accept any form of domestic abuse and the support is here for everyone.

Domestic Abuse Hub - here to support you

Doncaster Council, in partnership with other specialist providers of domestic abuse support, have created a Domestic Abuse Hub which means that there is simple way of accessing support for anyone that wants help. Partners in the Hub include Doncaster Council, Doncaster Children's Services Trust, Riverside and Phoenix WoMen's Aid.

Together we can support you with practical and emotional support. The team also works closely with other agencies e.g. health, housing and Police to offer you additional help and support.

The Domestic Abuse Hub consists of experienced, trained and knowledgeable workers that want to help people out of abusive situations and into healthy and fulfilling lives. The domestic abuse workers will ask you important questions about your relationship with the person that is being abusive towards you. The first concern is your safety and if you haven't already done so the domestic abuse worker will encourage and support you to report any crimes to South Yorkshire Police. Once you are in a safe place you and your worker can explore what else you need and help you with practical issues such as housing, debt, solicitors appointments, support at court etc. Your worker will also be there to provide emotional support and help you overcome your experience.

Power to Change

Power to Change is a Self Esteem & Confidence Course for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The course explores the impact domestic abuse has on self-esteem and aims to enhance self-awareness through peer support and discussion. Subjects covered are:

How domestic abuse impacts self esteem
Basic Rights
Personal Needs & Needs within a Relationship
Coping with Grief, Fear, Guilt & Anger
Anger, Boundaries & Boundary Setting
Assertiveness Skills
Healthy Relationships & New Beginnings

Each course runs for 6 weeks in a support group setting.

To refer please contact Doncaster Domestic Abuse Hub on 01302 737080.

Strangulation

Some victims of domestic abuse will experience strangulation by their abuser.

Strangulation is where there is pressure on the neck. This pressure leads to the

blood vessels and sometimes the airways (windpipe) in the neck being squashed.

This will end up with less oxygen getting to the brain.

People can be strangled in different ways. It could be by a hand or hands on the

neck, being put in a headlock or by something wrapped tight around the neck,

like a scarf, belt or rope.

Strangulation is serious and there is no safe way to be strangled.

There is a risk to life every time it is done.

Whether you have been strangled once or one hundred times, whether it was

today or many years ago, it is never too late to speak to someone. And you will

never be wasting anyone’s time.

The Institute for Addressing Strangulation have produced this information booklet for victims of strangulation. If you have/are experiencing strangulation please report to South Yorkshire Police and contact the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Hub for support. Tel: 01302 737080.

Need to talk

If you would like to speak to a domestic abuse worker in the Domestic Abuse Hub telephone 01302 737080, email dahub@doncaster.gov.uk or complete our online self-referral form:

DOMESTIC ABUSE SELF-REFERRAL FORM

We will aim to respond as soon as possible and usually within 2 working days. A member of the team will call you back. Please remember to leave a safe telephone number and a safe time to call.

This service is open Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm (excluding bank holidays). During these hours this is a busy service so please keep trying or leave a message.

Remember, always dial 999 in an emergency. You can also report domestic abuse to South Yorkshire Police via their online reporting form - Form (reportingcrime.uk). (Not to be used in an emergency)

You can also report domestic abuse anonymously to Crimestoppers Domestic abuse - You are not powerless | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) Tel: 0800 555 111

Outside of the office hours some helpful numbers are:

National 24 Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0808 2000 247
St. Leger homeless out of hours - 01302 737199
Mental Health Crisis Team - 0800 804 8999
Samaritans - call free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

There are a number of providers of domestic abuse services working across the Borough of Doncaster supporting ALL victims of domestic abuse. The support is available for people in heterosexual relationships, for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. Support is available for people being abused by a partner or an ex-partner or for people who are being abused by a family member e.g. son, daughter, sibling, grandchild.

These agencies are working together in a Domestic Abuse Hub which makes it simple and easy to get the help you need when you need it.

Domestic abuse workers can support people aged 16 years or older. The specialist workers can provide practical and emotional support to you, family members and also signpost on to services for those that commit domestic abuse.

If you would like additional information and support from more specialist organisations you can find there details below.

Additional sources of specialist domestic abuse support:

Additional information for our deaf community

The professionals in the Doncaster domestic abuse hub can make any arrangements you need to ensure that you can access all of the support you need.

There is also the following British Sign Language video with details of how you can get help if you are facing domestic abuse.

There is also an organisation called DeafHope. Their mission at DeafHope is to end domestic and sexual violence in Deaf communities through empowerment, education and services. DeafHope – Together We Can End Violence (deaf-hope.org)

Have your say

Your experiences of domestic abuse can help us to improve our services, publicity and training. We want to know how you escaped the abuse, which agencies helped you and which agencies could have done more. We want to know about the impact the abuse had on you and your children and how you think we can help other victims and survivors.

A message from our domestic abuse survivor worker

As a survivor (or I like to say strong woman now and take my perpetrator out the picture) I am so honoured to elevate all of your voices.

I’ve been where you have been, experienced some of the things that you have, felt the fear, isolation and lack of control over my life like I am sure you may be feeling, or have felt too.

I want to make sure that you don’t feel like that anymore or ever again. I can’t say I have a magic wand, I don’t, but along with my colleagues and other survivors I will work tirelessly to help you move past the abuse and be safe and happy.

I know how hard it is to challenge things, and people or have an idea but still not confident to voice it. That’s what I am here for. No judgement from me, the only stupid question is one not asked. This questionnaire comes to my eyes, A SURVIVOR, a victim of nearly two decades that felt I was handcuffed to a perpetrator by the systems designed to free me. I get it. The questionnaire gives me an anonymous confidential overview of your voices, what matters, what needs to change and, hey, what we are good at.

I can’t do this job on my own, I need you and want you on this journey with me. The new domestic abuse legislation gives us an opportunity to ensure we meet your needs and those of future victims. No training or awareness is better than lived experience, we are the most qualified off all to advise. I am here to make sure your needs are heard, and trust me, I will shout them loud and clearly for you.

This questionnaire could possibly bring back some things you may have wanted to forget please skip any questions you are uncomfortable with, and take your time, have a break and look after yourself.

As it is anonymous you will not be contacted by anyone. If you would like to contact me my email is survivors@doncaster.gov.uk and I so look forward to meeting you all in whatever way you feel safe.

I am here for you.

Laura