Domestic violence

Domestic violence – help for you from your Borough Council

Call us on 0777 1690 411 (confidential number – office hours)
Or email wgreen@rushcliffe.gov.uk.

Domestic Violence (also called domestic abuse) and wider associated issues such as honour violence, forced marriage and FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) affects many people across all strands of our community. It overwhelmingly affects women and children, but can also happen to men and to other adults in a close family relationship. It can happen in gay and lesbian relationships.

Many people associate these issues with something that involves a deliberate assault, but it can comprise a range of behaviours such as emotional, financial or sexual abuse - you can experience domestic abuse on any of these levels and physical violence may not always be present.

Rural drop in service for women

Rushcliffe Borough Council currently runs three busy drop-in centres in Bingham and Keyworth and West Bridgford.

Rushcliffe also runs other support in the Borough including outreach and the Freedom programme for women. In recognition that many women who work can find it difficult to access help and support,

For further details or any queries, please call the Borough Council domestic violence worker - Wendy on 0777 1690 411.

Outreach service for women

This service is for women who may wish to leave an abusive relationship or are coping with the aftermath of violence and abuse and need 1:1 support. There may be a waiting list to access this service – please call us on 0777 1690 411 for further information.

The Freedom programme – women only

This nationally acclaimed Freedom programme draws together women who wish to learn more about the effect of domestic abuse – both to the survivor and children. It also explores what makes up a loving and equal relationship and highlights early warning signs to look for when entering a new relationship. There is lots of general information about the Freedom programme on the national Freedom programme website and you are welcome to call us for details of the programmes running in Rushcliffe.

Rushcliffe sanctuary scheme

The sanctuary scheme might be of help to you if you feel unsafe in your home after you have ended your relationship and you are considering leaving because of this. This is a very practical, free scheme which enhances security and will then enable you to remain at home and maintain your links to schools, work and social/family networks. Please see the sanctuary leaflet for full details.

Help for men experiencing abuse

Men can contact us for advice, emotional support and for referral to specialist services.
Statutory services such as housing, legal help, the criminal justice system and social care are also all equally available to male survivors as for female survivors. Please call to make an appointment or to speak with us.

Community work

We run a programme of work through the year that aims to inform members of the community about domestic violence. This may be by working with young people in our schools and looking at issues such as respect in relationships or the root beliefs held by those who use their abuse to control and dominate their partner or other close family member.

We hold major community events such as library exhibitions using local children’s artwork to highlight DV issues and also put on quality community theatre productions to allow people living in Rushcliffe the chance to see the impact of domestic violence in a truly inclusive way.

If you are involved in a community group or school and would like to know more, please contact us.

Rushcliffe & Gedling domestic abuse network

This is a quarterly forum to provide up to date details on changes to law and practice and to help resolve issues in a networking environment. We have guest speakers, agency updates and early notification of training events and changes to services.

We also publish an informative quarterly newsletter which is circulated widely in the Borough and again provides other agencies with an opportunity to advise on their services and any new developments.

If you work in Rushcliffe (or Gedling) and would like to join the mailing list/attend meetings, please contact us.

Finding out more

If there is no immediate crisis but you would like to know more about domestic violence and associated issues, you will find the following websites of interest.

You may also wish to contact the 24 hour freephone DV helpline for Nottinghamshire, which is run by WAIS (Women’s Aid Integrated Services), on 0808 800 0340 – this is open 7 days a week. The Men's Advice number is 0808 8010 327.

Be aware of cyber stalking

Rushcliffe’s domestic violence expert Wendy Green has spoken at the national Women’s Aid conference where new cyber-stalking guidelines are being launched.

Rushcliffe has been working with Jennifer Perry, expert spokesperson on cyber-stalking, to help produce an informative guide about the use of the internet and mobile phone technology to harm/harass people.

Wendy says: “We’ve raised awareness about the harm caused and the difficulties experienced by the victims by holding workshops with children from local comprehensive schools. We also gave out mouse-mats to make people aware of online dangers. In January, we ran a training day for criminal justice agencies, support workers and Women’s Aid to help understand the risks facing survivors of domestic abuse, and ways in which to gather evidence and help them. These practitioners shared their experiences which contributed to the guide. Jennifer gave us advice including drawing up contact orders in the family court and how to provide evidence eg that a perpetrator was using a fake Facebook profile to harass a survivor.”

‘Digital stalking: a guide to technology risks for victims’ is availabe from the Women's Aid website.