Bk.

CC Domestic violence leaflet 30/10/08 10:36 am Page 1

Hammersmith & Fulham

Domestic Violence
Where to go
for help

Hestia Women's Aid

Bk.CC Domestic violence leaflet 30/10/08 10:36 am Page 2

Domestic violence
- information and advice

W hen you suffer from domestic violence you

can feel very alone. But you’re not.
And while there are lots of other people out there
suffering in the same way it is important to also be
aware that there are many people and
organisations which can help and support you.
Statistics show that one in four women and one in
six men experience domestic violence at some
stage in their lives.
We know that anyone can be abused. Domestic
violence takes place across all social groups,
regardless of age, religion, culture, ethnic
background or sexuality.
In the majority of cases the abuse is carried out by
a man and the victim is a woman. But domestic
violence can also occur within lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender relationships and can be suffered
by men in heterosexual relationships.

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What is domestic violence? Remember

The phrase ‘domestic violence’ makes You are not alone.
most people think of physical abuse. Your partner has no right to beat,
Domestic violence can involve behaviour verbally or sexually abuse you or your
by your partner such as slapping, beating children. Assault is a criminal offence.
and kicking which can at its worst lead to
You are not to blame. You are not
permanent injury. But there are also other
responsible for the abuse. It is your
ways your partner can abuse you. These
partner who must take responsibility
can be sexual, emotional and mental.
for their actions.
For example:
Being under the influence of drugs or
Threatening to harm or kill you or
alcohol is not an excuse for violent or
your children.
threatening behaviour.
Forcing you to have sex when you
Violence is never the way to solve
don’t want to or in ways you don’t like.
conflict in the home.
Criticising and humiliating you.
You can survive and move on from an
For example, saying you are ugly,
abusive relationship.
worthless, a bad parent or unable to
get by on your own.
Isolating you from your family How to get help
and friends. We know it can be difficult to ask for
Not allowing you money, food or and find help. Domestic abuse can
sleep - making you a virtual prisoner undermine your confidence and make
you feel unable to act. But there are
in your own home.
lots of people who can help and
Often its not only you who is affected by advise you on the course of action
the abuse. Your children can also suffer which is best for you.
emotionally by seeing their mother being If you feel you or your children are in
abused by her partner. immediate danger from your partner
then your first priority must be the
We also know that domestic violence is safety of yourself and your family.
very rarely a one off event. It does tend to
Call 999 for the police
get worse and to happen more often emergency service.
over time.

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Safety planning checklist

Be ready to call 999 if you or your Tell someone you trust about
children are in danger. the abuse.
Keep some money and a set of keys Make calls from a phone box or a
in a safe place. friend's house.
Find out about your legal and Report any injuries to your GP so
housing rights, e.g. talk to a solicitor. there is a record of the abuse.
Keep copies of important papers Talk to family and friends about
(passports, birth certificates, court staying with them in an emergency.
orders, marriage certificate) in a safe Think about escape routes. Rehearse
place and have them readily available your escape plan and make sure both
to take with you should you decide you and your children can get away
to leave. safely in an emergency.
Carry a list of emergency numbers Pack an emergency bag. Include
with you: police, relatives, friends, clothing, medication, money, keys,
your children’s school, your solicitor, important documents, small toys for
social worker, domestic violence children.
services etc.

Support services and contact details

Key national numbers Police emergency
999
Below is a list of organisations which can
Contact the emergency service if
give you help if you are experiencing
there is any immediate threat to
domestic violence:
safety.
National Domestic Violence
24 hour helpline
0808 2000 247
Provides an information service,
access to 24 hour emergency
accommodation, availability of refuge
spaces, advice on safety planning etc.
Translation facilities can be provided.
Calls are free of charge.

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Services in
Hammersmith & Fulham
Specialist domestic violence Advance Advocacy Project
services www.advanceadvocacyproject.org.uk
Provides crisis intervention, risk
Westside Floating Support
assessment, safety planning, support
07771 905 306
through the criminal and civil justice
Provides support and advice on domestic
processes, advice and crisis counselling to
violence for women living in
survivors of domestic violence. Services are
Hammersmith & Fulham. The focus is
available to women referred by the police,
particularly on helping women who are
housing advice and Charing Cross
experiencing domestic violence and who
Accident and Emergency and the Parsons
want to stay in their own home or help in
Green walk in centre.
moving into a new home.
Domestic Violence Intervention
Hammersmith Women’s Aid
Project (DVIP)
Floating Support Service 020 7633 9181
07921 761 147 or 07921 760 042 www.dvip.org
or 07921 761 143 DVIP runs a Violence Prevention
The Floating Support Service provides help Programme for men who have been
to women who have experienced domestic violent and abusive towards a partner or
violence to help them to maintain their ex partner. A Women’s Support Service is
tenancies. The service is available to offered to the partner or ex partner of
women where the abuser is no longer men referred to DVIP.
living in the household. Al-Aman Family Safety Project (DVIP)
Women’s Service 020 8563 2250
Violence Prevention Programme
020 8748 2577
The project offers a Violence Prevention
Programme and Women’s Support Service
for members of the Arabic speaking
communities across west London.

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Police Hammersmith & Fulham

children’s social services
Hammersmith and Fulham Police
Community Safety Unit (CSU) North office
020 8246 2880 020 8749 3331
The CSU investigates hate crimes, South office
including domestic violence, in the 020 8753 5842
borough. Officers are specially trained to Emergency after hours
deal with these crimes. There is an answer 020 8748 8588
phone for out of hours calls. Referral to, and information on, social
The local police can put people experiencing services for children and families.
domestic violence in touch with ADVANCE, Hammersmith & Fulham
a domestic violence advocacy service which adult social services
can offer support and advice and help to 020 8753 5456
gain court protection from a violent partner. Information and assessment for adults
Hammersmith and Fulham Police seeking help from social services.
general number: Hammersmith & Fulham
020 8563 1212 housing department
housing advice and assessment
London Borough of service
Hammersmith & Fulham 020 8753 4144 (office hours)
Hammersmith & Fulham Council - Emergency housing service for people
general enquiries and information living in the borough.
020 8748 3020 Keep Safe service
(8.00am to 8.00pm 020 7386 1852
Monday to Friday and The service can provide door and window
9.00am to 1.00pm Saturday) locks, spy holes and other security devices
for a vulnerable people, including victims
020 8748 8588
of domestic violence.
(emergency out of hours number)
Careline
www.lbhf.gov.uk
020 7386 8763
General information on council services. Careline can provide alarms, which are
connected via their service directly on to
the local police, for people who
experience domestic violence.

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Legal and other Health services

advice services Hospitals
Hammersmith and Fulham Victim Charing Cross Hospital
Support Scheme 020 8746 8000
020 7385 6868 Fulham Palace Road
Help, support and advice to all victims of London W6 4UL
crime, including those not reported to the
Hammersmith Hospital
police.
020 8383 1000
Hammersmith and Fulham Du Cane Road
Law Centre London W12 0HS
020 8741 4021 Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea
Legal advice including homelessness, Hospital (maternity services)
immigration and nationality, domestic 020 8383 1111
violence. Du Cane Road
Drop in immigration advice London W12 0HS
Tuesday 5.00 - 7.00pm. Primary Care Trust
Fulham Legal Advice Centre Hammersmith and Fulham
020 7731 2401 Primary Care Trust (PCT)
Free advice service, offering advice on www.hf-pct.nhs.uk
general and legal matters, and welfare Information about health services in
rights. the borough - GPs, pharmacies,
Citizens Advice Bureau Fulham dentists, opticians, local hospitals and
0845 458 2515 key social services team.
Advice and information on a range of Counselling and mental health
subjects, including benefits, employment
DVP Family Life Skills
rights, consumer, housing. Call to check
020 7384 9212
opening hours. Covers the W14, SW6 and
Counselling and support for people
W6 areas of Hammersmith and Fulham.
affected by domestic violence.
Shepherds Bush Advice Centre West London Centre
020 8753 5910 for Counselling
Advice service including benefits, debt and 020 8743 8060
housing. Counselling for people who have
experienced relationship problems
(including domestic violence),
bereavement, depression addiction etc.

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Hammersmith and Fulham MIND Rape and sexual assault

020 8741 0661
The Haven
www.hfmind.org.uk
020 7886 1101
Provides services for people with
St Marys Hospital
experience of mental health problems
Praed Street
or emotional distress.
London
Samaritans 24 hour helpline www.thehavens.org.uk
08457 90 90 90 A service for all victims of rape and
Support for people suffering crisis. sexual assault including men and boys.
Drug and alcohol misuse Medical help, counselling, practical and
emotional support. This is an open
The Wolverton Gardens access service - no need for GP or other
Alcohol Team referral. There is no requirement to
020 8846 7870 report an incident to the police.
NHS treatment, counselling and
support for individuals and families Family Planning Clinics
who are affected by misuse of alcohol. Please ring to check opening times:
Referral is via GP or the CAPS
Charing Cross Hospital
(Community Assessment and Primary
020 7602 2723
Services) team on 020 7381 7766.
CAPS also offers NHS assessment and Falkland House Health Clinic
treatment to individuals affected by Mornington Avenue
drug misuse issues. Wolverton London W14 8UJ
Gardens has a women only afternoon 020 8846 6291
on Thursdays for any woman affected Milson Road Health Centre
by drug or alcohol problems in 1-13 Milson Road
Hammersmith and Fulham. London W14 0LJ
020 7602 2723 or 8846 6234
Turning Point Druglink
020 8749 6799 Parsons Green Centre
Services to people affected by 5-7 Parsons Green
substance misuse and to family and London SW6 4UL
friends of substance users. 020 8846 6830
The Surgery
1 Hammersmith Bridge Road
London W6 9DU
0844 477 3927
White City Health Centre
Australia Road
London W12 7PH
020 8846 6464
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National and cross London

agencies and helplines
Domestic violence Children’s Legal Centre
0120 687 2466
Refuge
www.childrenslegalcentre.com
www.refuge.org.uk
Free and confidential advice on law
Website includes useful information on
affecting children.
areas including refuge services, safety
planning and the effects of domestic Careline
violence on children. 0845 122 8622
A national, confidential counselling line
Women’s Aid
for children, young people and adults.
www.womensaid.org.uk
Covers family, relationships and marital
Information, statistics and advice on
problems, child abuse, rape, sexual assault
domestic violence.
and depression.

Services for children Lesbian, gay, bisexual

National Child Protection Helpline and transgender
(NSPCC) 24 hour
Broken Rainbow
0808 800 5000
08452 60 44 60
www.nspcc.org.uk
www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
Free, confidential advice for anyone
Provides services to lesbian, gay, bisexual
concerned about children at risk. Offers
and transgender (LGBT) people
counselling, information and advice.
experiencing domestic violence.
Childline 24 hour
Gay Men’s Shared Housing Project
0800 1111
020 8743 2165
www.childline.org.uk
Temporary supported accommodation for
Free and confidential advice to children
gay men experiencing domestic violence
and young people on a number of issues
and/or homophobic violence.
including domestic violence
The Hideout
www.thehideout.org.uk
National website aimed specifically at
children experiencing domestic violence or
who might want to help a friend affected
by domestic violence.

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Male victims of domestic Jewish Women's Aid helpline

violence and sexual assault 0800 591 203
The helpline offers legal, housing benefits
Male Advice Line and enquiries
information, befriending and counselling
0808 801 0327
to Jewish women experiencing domestic
Helpline for male victims of domestic
violence/abuse. They also have a refuge
violence. Offers advice, information,
for Jewish women.
listening, ongoing support and referrals.
Somalian Women's Centre
Mankind UK
020 8752 1787
01273 510 447
Advice and information for the Somali
www.mankinduk.co.uk
community on housing, immigration,
Mankind UK is a support and resource
nationality and asylum, education,
service established to provide counselling
employment and welfare rights.
and support for victims of male rape,
male sexual assault and violence, as well Newham Asian Women's Project
as sex abuse support for men. 020 8552 5524
www.nawp.org
Haven project
Provides advice and support for Asian
www.thehavens.org.uk
women and children experiencing
020 3299 9000
domestic violence. Services include a
A service for all victims of rape and sexual
refuge, a second stage hostel and a
assault including men and boys. For more
resource centre.
information please see the entry in the
health section. Kiran - Asian Women's Aid
020 8558 1986
Support for people from www.o-regen.co.uk
multicultural backgrounds Kiran offer temporary accommodation for
Asian women escaping domestic violence.
Southall Black Sisters
020 8571 9595 Chinese Information and
Services focused on Asian, African and Advice Centre
African Caribbean women. Provides 020 7692 3697
advice, information on domestic violence, www.ciac.co.uk
rape, sexual abuse, matrimonial rights, CIAC offers free legal advice and
and immigration advice. representation on immigration and
nationality law, as well as domestic
violence support.

continued

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office Other services

020 7462 1281
Rights of Women
020 7323 1538
020 7251 6577
www.fco.gov.uk
020 7251 8887
Information and support on forced
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
marriage and repatriation issues.
A free legal advice service for women.
Refugee Council Provides useful information leaflets on
020 7346 6700 legal issues.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
Shelter Advice Line (24 hour)
Support and advice for asylum seekers
0808 800 4444
and refugees.
www.england.shelter.org.uk
Immigration Advisory Service Free advice on housing matters.
office hours
020 7967 1200
emergency out of office hours
020 7967 1299
www.iasuk.org
Provides a free legal advice and
representation service to immigrants and
asylum seekers.
Refugee Action
020 7654 7700
A charity providing advice on reception,
resettlement, development and
integration of asylum seekers and
refugees.

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If you would like any

part of this document
interpreted into your
own language,
please call CITAS
0845 521 0405

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Produced by Hammersmith & Fulham Domestic Violence Forum, April 2008 Printed by Hammerprint 020 8753 2235 Ref: Bk.CC Domestic violence leaflet
Printed on reccycled paper
Bk.CC Domestic violence leaflet
30/10/08

Hestia Women's Aid

10:36 am
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