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What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is the use of physical and/or emotional abuse or violence including undermining of self-confidence, sexual violence or the threat of violence, by a person who is or has been in a close relationship. Domestic abuse can go beyond actual physical violence. It can also involve emotional abuse, the destruction of a spouse's or partner's property, their isolation from friends, family or other potential sources of support, threats to others including children, control over access to money, personal items, food, transportation and the telephone and stalking. There are various services which can help individuals and their families affected by domestic violence.

Who should I contact?

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.


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.
  • Solicitor Visits - Women can attend a free hour long appointment with a solicitor who can give them advice on civil and criminal procedure options.


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. BAWSO 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.


Cardiff Council Housing & Neighbourhood Renewal
  • Housing Advice Unit - Provision of housing advice to people in housing need including victims of domestic abuse.
    Contact:
    Visit Marland House
    Central Square
    Cardiff
    Tel: 029 2087 1050
    Email: HAU@cardiff.gov.uk
  • Tenant support scheme - Provision of housing related support to enable long term maintenance of tenancies or current accommodation.
    Contact:
    Tel: 029 2053 7342
    Email: TenantSupportTeam@cardiff.gov.uk
  • Hostel Service - Provision of temporary supported accommodation for homeless people including victims of domestic abuse and their children
    Contact:
    Housing Advice Unit
    Tel: 029 2087 1050
    Emergency Out of Hours Homelessness Service Tel: 029 2023 1018
  • Community Alarms Service - Supply of alarms reserved specifically for domestic abuse cases to allow victims to summon help in an abusive or threatening situation. Control Centre staff contact the police if the alarm is activated. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
    Contact:
    Community Alarm Service on Tel: 029 2061 4852


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 support and accommodation needs.


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.


Men's Services - Dyn Project
Contact: Tel: 029 2022 2022 Website: www.dynwales.org

  • Domestic Abuse Male Helpline - Helpline for male victims of DV to call to receive support and advice. Call 0808 801 0321
  • Independent Domestic Violence Advocate - Provides support and advice to men affected by domestic violence. They provide advice and information on services such as benefits and housing. They can provide a risk assessment and safety planning.
  • Training - Training on men affected by domestic abuse for relevant organisations.