Emma Soutar and Claire CooperSouthwark Floating Support
17th June, 2009
• National domestic violence charity
• Largest single provider
• World’s first refuge – 1971
• Supporting 1,000 women and children on any given day
Refuge – who we areRefuge – who we are
Freephone 24 Hr National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership
between Refuge and Women’s Aid
Independent advocacy
Generic floating support
Outreach services for women from Eastern Europe
Peripatetic staff across London
Psychological services for women
and children
Generic refuges
Culturally specific refuges
Child support workers
Sanctuary
Refuge’s package of servicesRefuge’s package of services
Power and control wheel 1Power and control wheel 1
• Using intimidation: making her afraid by using looks, actions, gestures, smashing things, destroying her property, abusing pets, displaying weapons.
• Using emotional abuse: putting her down, making her feel bad about herself, calling her names, making her think she's crazy, playing mind games, humiliating her, making her feel guilty.
• Using isolation: controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, what she reads, where she goes, limiting her outside involvement, using jealousy to justify actions.
• Minimizing, denying, and blaming: making light of the abuse and not taking her concerns about it seriously, saying the abuse didn't happen, shifting responsibility for abusive behavior, saying she caused it.
Power and control wheel 2Power and control wheel 2
Using children: making her feel guilty about the children, using the children to relay messages, using visitation to harass her, threatening to take children away.
Using male privilege: treating her like a servant, making all the big decisions, acting like the "master of the castle", being the one to define men's and women's roles.
Using economic abuse: preventing her from getting or keeping a job, making her ask for money, giving her an allowance, taking her money, not letting her know about or have access to family income.
Using coercion and threats: making and/or carrying out threatsto hurt her, threatening to leave her, to commit suicide, to report her to welfare, making her drop charges, making her do illegal things.
2
25
35
Women killed by a current or former partner every week
Percent of women will beabused in their life-times
Average number of assaults before a woman seeks help
45 Percent of women who experience repeat victimisation
The problemThe problem
90
1
23
Per cent of abuse witnessed by children (where a woman has children)
Call received by the police in the UK every minute
£billion cost to the tax payer every year
The problemThe problem
15Percent of reported violent crime that is domestic violence
Criminal
Justice
System
£1billi
on
Health C
are phys
ical inj
uries
£1.2
billion
mental h
ealth
£176 mil
lion
Social S
ervices
£0.25
billion
Housing
£0.16 bi
llion
Civil Le
gal
£0.3
billion
Lost eco
nomic ou
tput
£2.7 bi
llion
Human an
d emotio
nal cost
£17
billion
The cost of domestic violence
Including all costs, the total cost of domestic violence for the state, employers and victims is estimated at around £23 billion
The statistics
• 1 woman in 4 experiences domestic violence at some point in her life.
• Two women are killed each week in England and Wales by a current or former partner.
• Domestic violence accounts for almost a one in six incidents of reported violent crime.
• In 90% of domestic violence incidents where a woman has children, they are in the
same or next room.
The statistics
• On average a woman is assaulted 35 times
before she seeks police help.• The most common cause of death in victims of
domestic violence is strangulation.• Domestic Violence is the most under reported
crime in the UK.
Physical injury Homelessness
Poverty Unemployment
Social isolation
Substance abuse
Impacts on a woman - practicalImpacts on a woman - practical
Low self esteem
Depression
Anxiety
Post-traumatic stress
Self harm
Suicide
Impacts on a woman - emotionalImpacts on a woman - emotional
Impacts on childrenImpacts on children
Development
Learning
Behaviour
Attitudes
Social skills
Building relationships
Depression
Anxiety
Post-traumaticstress Self-harm
Substance abuse
Impacts on childrenImpacts on children
Fear
Isolation
Threats to take children
Access to money
Low confidence
Keep children with father
Community
Nowhere to goUnawar
e of
optio
ns
Why do women stay?Why do women stay?
Myth: Alcohol and drugs make men violent
Myth: He hit her because he was under stress
Myth: She provoked him, she made him angry
Myth: It only happens in poor families on council estates
Myth: Some religions allow it
Myths of domestic violenceMyths of domestic violence
2/3 Men admit they would use violence in conflict situations with partners
1/5 Young men think it’s acceptable to force their wife into sex
1/2 Young men think rape is acceptablein some circumstances
Surely things have changed?Surely things have changed?
1/10 Men think it’s ok to rape a woman if he’s too turned on to stop
1/8 Men think it’s ok to hit a nagging woman
34 % of young men don’t think forcing someone to have sex is rape
19% of young women agree
Surely things have changed?Surely things have changed?
Refuge in SouthwarkRefuge in Southwark
In Southwark, Refuge provides:• Floating support • Sanctuary Scheme • Court advocates • Support Groups• Refuge Accommodation
Refuge floating support, SouthwarkRefuge floating support, Southwark
• Informal legal information • Housing• Family • Welfare benefits• Debt advice• Civil and criminal remedies• Emotional and psychological support• Education and employment advice • Sign post to specialist services• Or just a listening ear
Refuge floating support, SouthwarkRefuge floating support, Southwark
• Referral• Initial Assessment• Needs Assessment • Individual Support Plan• Risk Assessments• Safety Planning• Telephone Support
Get help nowGet help now
• Southwark Floating Support• 0207 231 5514• 0207 394 9356• 0207 231 6847• Fax: 0207 394 6642• PO Box 38476, SE16
2WW
• 24hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Refuge and Women’s Aid:
0808 2000 247
• www.refuge.org.uk
Refuge is committed to a world where domestic violence is not tolerated or ignored and where
women and children can live in safety.
Domestic violence is a crime.
It is against the law.
And it must not be ignored.
Refuge’s missionRefuge’s mission