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