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Protection and Support

Protection of the victim and their family is obviously of paramount importance in cases of domestic and sexual violence. Protection is not just about immediate safety but also a deeper sense of safety and human security. It is vital that the protection of victims is approached in a multi-agency manner. Many organisations will have contact with the victim and their family and can assist in their protection and support.

Contacts

Cardiff Women's Aid
Via drop-in, appointment or telephone:
16 Moira Terrace, Adamsdown, Cardiff, CF23 6HE
Tel: 02920 460566

  • Refuge - Safe house for women victims of domestic violence and their children. All residents receive support from allocated specialist workers covering issues such as housing, safety, prosecution/criminal/civil justice options, advocacy, emotional support, health, debt/finances and education/training/ employment.
  • Emergency Call Out - Out of hours emergency telephone service - providing advice, information and access to safe accommodation.
  • Crisis intervention - Confidential appointment & drop-in service close to the city centre. Support includes safety planning, housing options, target hardening, advocacy, police/criminal justice liaison, emotional support and referrals.
  • Crisis intervention tenant support - Support for up to 4 weeks in client's home or other appropriate venue within the community. The service is available 24 hours a day and provides a crisis response where there is an imminent risk of domestic abuse.
  • Counselling - Specialist counselling service for women with recent or historical experience of domestic violence. The service has been developed to provide dedicated counselling sessions for children/young people.
  • Floating Support - Longer term support to women in their own home for up to 24 weeks and includes emotional and practical support covering issues such as housing, safety planning, debt/finances, access to training/education/employment, health and wellbeing, parenting, leisure and community participation.
  • Children services - Children's support and development work - assessment, support planning and referrals. Includes leisure based activities, play and therapeutic support.
  • Freedom Programme - The Freedom Programme is a 12 week group for women who have experienced domestic violence, whether current or historical. It is a rolling programme, so can be joined at any point. There are creche facilities on site, and bus fare and parking can be refunded.


BAWSO Women's Aid (Specialist black and ethnic minority support)
Contact: Drop in, call or email:
9 Cathedral Road
Cardiff
CF11 9HA
Tel: 02920 644633
info@bawso.org.uk

  • Refuge - Safe house for women victims of domestic violence from black or ethnic minority communities and their children. BASWO provides emotional and practical support to women in refuge.
  • 24 hour Help Line - BAWSO maintains a 24 hours help line, which provides support at all times, day or night, 365 days of the year.
  • Advice Centre - BAWSO operates on an Open Door Policy, which means that if our refuge is full or unable to meet individual needs, every effort will be made to put the woman in contact with another agency, which is able to respond quickly and appropriately to her specific requirements. We also provide advice on housing, Welfare Rights, Health, Education and Legal.
  • Childcare Services - Childcare Support Workers do a variety of work with the children individually and in groups. BAWSO also work closely with schools, Social Services, health services and other children's organisations.
  • Outreach & Resettlement Work - Outreach/Resettlement Workers assist women to resettle into the community after staying in the refuge.
  • Floating Support - Support is provided in the following areas such as benefits, immigration, resettlement support, life skills, and disputes with neighbours, budgeting, welfare benefits, education, training and general counselling. The scheme aims to ensure that Black & Ethnic Minority women are given every chance to successfully maintain their tenancy and live independent lives.
  • Language Support - Supports women with no or little English language in terms of communication and to understand the issues that are relevant to their lives and enable the women to understand their rights and to support them in seeking help from outside agencies that will improve the quality of their lives.
  • BAWSO Poppy Project - Specialist accommodation and support for women who have been trafficked into prostitution.


Women's Safety Unit
Contact: Tel: 029 2022 2022

  • Independent Domestic Violence Advocate - Provides support and advice on court procedures and can accompany women to court. They provide advice and information on other services such as benefits and housing. They can provide a risk assessment and safety planning.


Hafan Cymru
Contact: Tel: 01446 747524

  • Floating Support - Support to men and women in their own homes for up to 24 weeks; Support elements include housing, safety, budgeting, debt/finances, access to training/education/employment, health and wellbeing, parenting, leisure and community participation. Referrals for Floating support to be made via Tenancy Support dept, Cardiff Borough Council or Supporting People dept, Vale of Glamorgan Borough council
  • Cardiff & Vale Floating support - Support for people with a wide range of needs including those who have experienced physical, sexual or psychological abuse, those recovering from mental health, ex offenders, substance misusers and care leavers.


Llamau
Contact: Access via referral, including self referral, informal interview assessment and waiting list in operation. Tel: 029 2023 9585

  • Women's Service 1 - 24 hour staffed, safe and secure temporary accommodation to homeless vulnerable women aged 16+. Supportive environment to enable a thorough assessment of housing and support needs leading to appropriate move-on.
  • Women's Service 2 - Self contained supported accommodation with a range of support services for women with a support and accommodation needs.


Safer Wales - Homesafe
Contact: Tel: 029 2046 1564
Email: admin@saferwales.com

Free home security service (target hardening) for domestic violence victims. Items provided include locks, personal attack alarms, minor repairs, fire risk assessment, smoke alarms and other security improvements.


South Wales Police
Contact: In an emergency call 999
South Wales Police Domestic Abuse Unit Tel: 029 2057 1569

  • Emergency Response - This is a general response for all victims at all times - 999
  • Critical Marker - Markers that notify the police that they have previously been victim of domestic abuse, are placed on addresses of very high risk victims' homes and other associated addresses, such as family, work place, refuge, children's schools and so on.
  • Home Visits - Police carry out home visits to very high risk victims.
  • Police Watch - Uniformed officers then either walk or drive by the victim's address regularly to ensure all is in order for victims at a very high risk.
  • Cocoon Watch - This is where immediate neighbours of a very high risk victim's residence agree to phone the police in the instance of a domestic incident.