Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd Supporting Women, Children and Young People across North Nottinghamshire Offering Choices, Improving Lives. Registered Charity Number 513843. A Company Ltd by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales Number 1822489 Registered Offi ce: The Farr Centre, Chapel Walk, Westgate, Worksop, Notts S80 1LR The Farr Centre: telephone 01909 533610, email: [email protected] Refuge: telephone 01909 478065, email [email protected] www.nottswa.org Introduction Domestic violence services in Nottinghamshire County are divided into two areas North and South. North Nottinghamshire covers Bassetlaw, Mansfi eld, Newark and Sherwood. Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd are the lead providers for services in North Nottinghamshire. Tel: 01909 533610 Email [email protected] www.nottswa.org South Nottinghamshire covers Ashfi eld, Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe. WAIS (Women’s Aid Integrated Services) are the lead providers for services in South Nottinghamshire. Tel: 0115 9475257 Email [email protected] www.wais.org.uk 24 hour free Helpline 0808 8000340 Text phone 0808 8000341 Background Information Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd, formerly Bassetlaw Women’s Aid Ltd was established in 1984 by a group of women who saw the need for a Refuge in this area. Since then it has grown and developed services in response to need. It is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee governed by a board of trustees. In 2003 it changed its structure from collective to linear management and in 2006 after consultation with its members changed its name from Bassetlaw Women’s Aid Ltd to Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd. • Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd continues to hold the Community Legal Services Quality Mark at general help level, maintaining the standards in 2011. • The organisation achieved accreditation by Supporting People Partnership Quality Standards to level B in all six core objectives. • In October 2010 the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Board carried out a Domestic Violence Service review on all specialists DV providers across Nottinghamshire; Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd had excellent feedback from this review. • Our Independent Domestic Violence Advocate service achieved Leading Lights Accreditation (a nationally recognised advocacy qualifi cation) in 2011. • In 2011 the organisation achieved recognition from Investors in People being awarded the Gold Standard. 2 Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd 01909 533610 • [email protected] • www.nottswa.org Contents Introduction 2 Background information 2 What is Domestic Abuse? 3 Training Available 4 The Farr Centre 5 Refuge 6 Children’s Services 8 Floating Support and Outreach 10 Supported Housing 11 IDVA Service 12 Women’s Safety Workers 13 MARAC 13 Domestic Abuse Drop in Service 14 Safety planning 15 What is Domestic Abuse? The definition of Domestic Abuse is: In Women’s Aid’s view domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. This can include forced marriage and so-called “honour crimes”. Domestic violence may include a range of abusive behaviours, not all of which are in themselves inherently “violent”. The Home Office view 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 of concern to black and minority ethnic (BME) communities such as so called “honour based violence”, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.” Domestic abuse is most often experienced by women and from someone they know, usually a man. This could be a partner, carer, friend or family member. Domestic abuse can also happen in transgender and same sex relationships. Honour based violence is a crime or incident, which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community. “A forced marriage is a marriage in which one or both spouses do not (or in the case of some adults with learning or physical disabilities, cannot) consent to the marriage and duress is involved. Duress can include physical, psychological, financial, sexual and emotional pressure.” Female circumcision or cutting, more usually referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM), involves cutting out or operating on the genitalia of girls in order to conform to cultural or religious traditions or beliefs. Abuse can take the form of a physical assault such as hitting, punching or hair pulling, sexual abuse or emotional abuse such as threats, isolation, name calling, belittling or financial abuse such as withholding money and other abusive acts. Women who experience domestic abuse may feel isolated, alone and afraid. It can be difficult to believe that someone you care about can behave in such a way and many women assume that they are to blame for their abuser’s behaviour. This is NOT the case as it is the abuser’s behaviour that needs to change. Therefore it is important to accept that you are not to blame and to seek help if you require support. 3 Training and Awareness Sessions we Deliver Freedom Programme The Freedom Programme is an opportunity for survivors of domestic abuse to understand male violence towards women. It helps women understand the behaviours and beliefs of their abusive partners or ex-partners, connect with other women who have had similar experiences, feel less isolated and alone and have the chance to work through their feelings and experiences in a safe way. Parenting We work in partnership to deliver parenting programmes including Webster Stratton and Strengthening Families. SAFE Domestic abuse and healthy relationships awareness sessions delivered to secondary schools in the area. Hands are not for Hurting A treatment programme for children and their mothers/female carers who have experienced domestic abuse. Training Resources Our trainers are members of NSCB and NDVF training pools and deliver a range of sessions on their behalf. Bespoke training • Domestic abuse awareness • Routine/Direct Enquiry • Impact of domestic violence on children and young people • DASH/MARAC awareness Rooms are available to hire at the Farr Centre, Chapel Walk, Westgate. Worksop. Contact us for further details of our competitive rates on 01909 533610 4 Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd 01909 533610 • [email protected] • www.nottswa.org The Farr Centre, Chapel Walk, Westgate, Worksop S80 1LR Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 am – 7:30 pm. The Farr Centre is open to all women in the area. It offers: • Counselling • Information • Support • Advice • Guidance • A range of women and service user groups • A range of educational and emotional well being courses • A free by appointment legal surgery • FreeDom Programme A free OFSTED registered (EY338292) crèche is always available and provides: • Crèche spaces for courses • Crèche spaces for Centre appointments and drop ins • A Shopper’s crèche, by appointment with a small charge • A Mothers and Toddlers’ group • School holiday activities Counselling Services Our female counsellors provide a free service working with BACP guidelines. Counselling is a time and space for you to talk about your experiences, your worries, dreams and memories in a confidential setting with someone who will listen and not be judgemental and who is outside of your normal life with no direct relationship. 5 Refuge mer afe E genc r S y A h cc 4 o Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid 2 m m Ltd provides Refuge services e o s d u in the Bassetlaw and Mansfield a b t a i areas. o c n i t f s o e r Refuges aim to meet the needs w m o o of women, children and young d m g e people escaping domestic n n i , p c abuse by offering 24 hour safe a h c i s l d e emergency accommodation, r e e l n p a o n e d p practical help, support, y g o n u information and guidance. The Refuge team staff comprises of women and children/young people’s support workers who are specialists in domestic abuse. They will respond in a non judgemental way to provide support to work through individual experiences and empower women and families to move forward with their lives. Each Refuge is protected with security systems and offer an out of hours emergency service. Bassetlaw Refuge is purpose built offering eight self contained two bedroom flats which are fully furnished. There are also communal areas which include a children’s playroom and a quiet/prayer room. Mansfield Refuge is a five bedroom property, offering own private bedroom with communal living area and a children’s playroom. 6 Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid Ltd 01909 533610 • [email protected] • www.nottswa.org Mansfield also has a separate shared satellite property available for women who require a lower level of support. The Bassetlaw Refuge and Mansfield shared satellite property accept boys up to the age 17yrs. Children and young people’s refuge services provide a range of therapeutic and play activities for children residing in refuge. All refuges offer an immediate and temporary place of safety. We respect the residents rights to privacy and dignity and encourage wherever possible their involvement in the project through regular house meetings, social activities and events. The Refuges maintain an “Open Door Policy” and no woman will be turned away without assistance, this includes providing weekend and some evening cover and an Out Of Hours