Specialist Domestic Violence Support for Women from Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities

We provide culturally sensitive support to women and children primarily from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who have experienced domestic abuse, honour-based violence, forced marriage or other harmful practices.

Victims/survivors of domestic abuse from BME Communities may experience additional barriers to disclosing abuse and seeking support. As a result, abuse may escalate. Research by the NSPCC suggests that victims from BME communities continue to live in abusive situations for longer, which negatively impacts the victim and children living in households.

Some religious and cultural communities may encourage men and women to fulfil roles specific to their gender, which may encourage rigid expectations and pressure to comply.

There are some specific forms of abuse which may be perpetrated within those BME communities where honour plays a vital role. These include honour-based violence, forced marriages, FGM, Breast ironing & other harmful practices.

The violence and abuse can be perpetrated by not only the spouse or partner but also by the extended families and the community. Family and community members may be complicit in this abuse or may wish to deal with it by themselves and not involve other agencies.

BME victims experiencing domestic violence and abuse may be reluctant or prevented from seeking help for many reasons:

• Language barriers
• Fear they will not be believed or understood
• Limited access to or little knowledge of finances
• Lack of awareness of what constitutes domestic abuse and the impact this has on their children
• Lack of awareness of the laws governing Domestic abuse and the response they can expect from police/courts/services
• Fear of discrimination by statutory services, such as police and social services, based upon previous experiences or beliefs
• Fear of being sent back overseas which could cause further shame to the family’s honour
• Fear about their children’s (mainly daughters) ability or prospect to marry
• Fear they will become isolated from family and community bonds if they seek help/leave relationship
• Concern that professionals may normalise abuse within their background or culture
• Fear they may lose residency in the UK, where immigration status is an issue.

If you are a woman from the Black & minority Ethnic community who is experiencing or has experienced abuse, Do not suffer in silence! We are here for you! Call or text 07391849301