Council Teams Up with Refuge to Help Tackle Domestic Abuse
Adding to the existing to tackle violence against women and girls
Refuge runs the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline. Picture: iStock
Hammersmith & Fulham has teamed up with national charity Refuge to help survivors escape domestic abuse.
The largest organisation of its kind in the country, the charity provides confidential, practical support for those experiencing domestic abuse.
The new service offers discrete support and safe accommodation to women and children who need to flee their homes because of domestic violence.
Refuge joins Hammersmith & Fulham’s extensive network of specialist support services as latest figures show a rise in domestic abuse offences by eight per cent from the previous year.
On any given day, Refuge help support thousands of single women and women with children who experience violence through a family member, partner, ex-partner or other person in their home life.
Whether to help them understand their rights and options or finding emergency accommodation away from their perpetrators, Refuge can offer tailored expert help for survivors.
“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to providing support: we want to tailor our support to the individual,” said Mari Edwards, Head of Operations at Refuge.
“We are delighted to be working with Hammersmith & Fulham Council as they strive to tackle violence against women and girls more broadly in their borough,” said Abigail Ampofo, Director of Service Delivery at Refuge.
“Everybody deserves to live a life that’s free from violence and abuse. We are there to listen and believe, and to provide that support for that person.”
Cllr Emma Apthorp, Mayor of H&F Council, welcomed the new partnership, saying, “Ending violence against women and girls is one of our top priorities. We are dedicated to ensuring that survivors get the support they need, including anyone fleeing domestic abuse.”
Mayor Apthorp talking to Mari about Refuge
Refuge is one of many Violence Against Women and Girls services available in the borough.
The partnership complements the support already provided by the council-commissioned Angelou service – a partnership of 10 specialist organisations for survivors of domestic or sexual violence.
Since 2020, they’ve supported more than 1,500 women and girls in the borough – over 50 per cent of whom had children.
As part of the council’s commitment to end this type of abuse, H&F launched its new Strategy for Ending Violence against Women and Girls earlier this year.
Developed with local residents, businesses and service providers for survivors, it maps out its approach to prevent gender-based violence, support survivors, hold abusers to account and create change through collaboration.
You can reach the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 – available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you find it difficult to pick up the phone, contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline live chat, open Monday to Friday, 3pm to 10pm.
Or visit the National Domestic Abuse Helpline website to fill in a webform and request a safe time to be contacted.
If you would like to talk about your situation – or the situation of someone you know – you can also get help through the Angelou partnership, free and confidentially. Call 0208 741 7008, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm, and Thursday, 10am to 9pm, or email angelou@advancecharity.org.uk.
For more information and further contacts, visit the H&F VAWG support page.
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Jacob Phillips - Local Democracy Reporter
August 8, 2022