Are you experiencing domestic abuse?
Sometimes it's difficult to know.
- Does your partner threaten you and your children?
- Are you and your children often frightened by your partner?
- Are you constantly degraded and picked on?
- Are you not allowed to have contact with friends and family?
- Does your partner constantly check where you have been, how much you spend, who you speak to?
Domestic violence covers a range of behaviours including physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse, within all types of relationships. Abuse can be carried out by men against women, women against men, within same sex relationships and by family members. It can affect anyone no matter what their social group, age, ability, ethnic origin or sexuality. It can be from a present or ex-partner.
Domestic violence can have devastating effects on the well-being and development of children who witness it.
What can I do?
If you are being abused it is useful to talk to someone about what has happened, even if you do not want to do anything about it. Often it is helpful to speak to someone and get some support for yourself. Getting someone to record the incidents will help you in the future if you do decide to take action.
Who should I tell?
Remember that telling someone doesn’t mean you have to do anything.There are places to go where you can just talk in confidence. It is important to protect yourself by ‘documenting’ your experience of abuse. Most agency workers will document what has happened if you request it.
What if I just want to leave?
The council's housing directorate acknowledges domestic violence as a reason for priority need. You can either go into a refuge, get re-housed through the council or move to private rented accommodation. You can contact the Homeless Persons Unit or the Housing Advice Service on 0161 793 2020.
Make yourself a safety plan
Think about your safety and ways that you can protect yourself.
- Do you have access to a phone?
- Would a neighbour phone for you?
- Could you ask someone to phone for you if they hear anything?
- Do your children know how to phone 999?
If you had to leave your home in an emergency or could not return, do you have:
- A safe place to stay?
- Money for taxis or buses stashed in a secret place?
- A bag with essential clothes,hidden or kept at afriend's house?
- Important papers (child benefit book, passports, birth certificates, bank books, injunction/legal documentation)?
- Phone numbers of friends, family, emergency social services and support helplines?
- Any medicines?
- Keys?
- Address book?
- Yours and your children’s sentimental items?
Can you keep these things hidden with a friend or relative?
There are many people you can contact for help and advice.
Downloadable documents
- Salford multi agency domestic abuse leaflet, (Adobe PDF format, 576kb)
- DAWES Project - Employment rights for victims of domestic abuse (Adobe PDF format, 87kb)
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.
This page was last updated on 31 October 2008
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