BDAF - Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum

Help and support

A. If you need help and support, click here

B. If you are planning to leave, click here

If you need information and support, the following agencies can help you

1.	If you are a woman, call Next Link to talk to a crisis response worker. She will help you with: • Staying safe • Leaving • Emergency housing • Permanent housing For local support in Hartcliffe, Withywood or Knowle West, call WISH or Knowle West Domestic Abuse Project

2.	If you are a male victim of domestic abuse contact the MALE advice line

3.	In an emergency call the Police on: 999. The police can offer help including finding somewhere to stay at any time. Victims have a right to police help if they are being hurt, no matter who is hurting them.

4.	If you are a Bristol City Council tenant, contact your local housing office via 0117 922 2000

5.	Contact a solicitor via the 24 hour Legal Advice Helpline. on 0117 904 5999

6.	Contact the 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247

7.	Contact the Bristol Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 6949 999

8.	If you are worried that your behaviour is abusive, call Respect

If you are planning to leave, these are ideas that might help you. They are suggestions and you do not have to have arranged all these things before you can leave.

Try to find a safe place to go (a friend’s house, family or a refuge)

Arrange a signal with a friend, which may need to be in code, so that you can be helped to escape

Try to have enough money put away in case you need a taxi, bus or train fare quickly

Gather together documents such as child and other benefit books, passports, birth certificates, rent books, mortgage details etc. and keep them in a safe place that you can get to easily

Have an extra set of keys cut for your house or anywhere else you may need to access. Remember to take a set of house keys with you

Keep a list of emergency contacts, e.g. school, GP, support services, in a safe place

Hide a small bag of essential items in a safe place together with any toiletries, baby things or personal items that you might need

If you have children, remember to take their favourite toy or comforter

Making the decision to leave is a big step but one that people take successfully every day. You are not alone and there is lots of help available to support you.

How you can help someone else

If someone comes to you for help, listen and don’t try to take control. The following points may help you:

Take the person seriously and believe what they say

Be calm and positive

Respect their wishes at all times. Ask what they want

Give them time to discuss feelings and needs at their own pace

Stress that they are not responsible for the abuse and that they are not alone

Find out if they need medical help

Use this website to find an organisation that can help

Do not push them to do anything they are not ready to do. They are probably the best
judge of what the best way forward is and what action is safe.

Assist them in making contact with agencies who may be able to help, e.g. Police, Next Link, legal advice

Help them to keep safe by making a safety plan

Assure them of your confidentiality unless there are child protection issues which must be reported.

Check whether it is safe to contact them and what the safest way is of keeping in touch.

Some people leave a violent and abusive relationship after only one incident. Others may take a long time to make this change in their lives. This does not mean that the violence is less serious. It is important that if someone feels unable to leave, they continue to receive help and support and a sympathetic response. There are organisations that can help women who are not ready to leave. Click here for organisations in Bristol who provide information and support for people experiencing domestic abuse.