Breaking the silence on Domestic Violence - Women and Families Resource Centre

If you are a victim of domestic violence and abuse, remember, that

1) you are not alone,

2) it is not your fault and

3) help is available.

Definition of abuse
Domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour.

Anyone forced to alter their behaviour because they are frightened of their partner’s reaction is being abused.

Did you know

There are over 1 million female victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales.
One in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their life.
Two women are killed by a current or former partner every week in England and Wales.
Domestic violence has the highest rate of repeat victimisation of any crime.
An incident of domestic violence occurs every six to 20 seconds in the UK.

Domestic Abuse doesn’t always mean physical violence:

Do you feel scared of your partner, especially of disagreeing with him or angering him?
Does he check up on you all the time and refuse to trust you?
Does he isolate you by making it hard to see your family and friends?
Does he manipulate you by withholding affection, lying to you, blaming you, shouting and swearing at you?
Does he use threats to control you, such as saying he will find you if you try to leave, your children will be taken away or you will be deported?
Does he withhold money or food from you or claim control over your wages or benefits?
Does he repeatedly criticise you, such saying you are worthless, and humiliate you in front of others?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may be experiencing domestic violence. Other signs are:

Pressure tactics: sulking, threatening to commit suicide: take the children away: report you to agencies unless you comply with his demands regarding bringing up children; lying to family or friends, feeling that you have no choice in any decisions.
Disrespecting persistently putting you down in front of other people; not listening or responding when you talk; interrupting your telephone calls, taking money from your purse without asking; refusing to help with children or housework.
Breaking Trust; lying to you, withholding information from you; being jealous; having other relationships. Breaking promises and agreements.
Isolation: monitoring or blocking telephone calls, telling you where you can and cannot go; preventing you from seeing friends or family.
Harassment: following you, checking up on you, opening your mail, repeatedly checking to see who telephoned you; embarrassing you in public.
Threats; making angry gestures; using physical size, shouting you down, destroying your possessions; breaking things, punching walls, wielding a knife or a gun, threatening to kill you and your children.
Sexual violence using force, any degrading treatment, based on your sexual orientation covering their tracks.
Physical violence; punching, kicking, slapping, biting, pinching, hitting, pulling hair, pushing, shoving, burning , strangling, tearing clothes.
Denial; saying that the abuse does not happen, saying that you caused the abuse, being publically gentle and patient, crying and begging for forgiveness, saying the abuse will not happen again.

We know it is difficult to talk about what has happened, but telling someone can really help

The Women & Families Resource Centre provides sensitive services for individual victims. Contact us and we will help you to get the support that you need.

It is important to remember that the abuse you have experienced is not your fault.

We will always believe you, listen to you and support you. We will give you time to make your own decisions and will never pressure you or judge you for anything you say. We can also offer support if you decide to report to the police.

DO YOU NEED HELP? THEN CALL US ON 01902 219590 0R SEND US A TEXT ON 07958604354

Useful Contacts For A Woman Suffering From Domestic Violence Are Found On The Resources Page On This Website.