What you can do
If you are being abused or if someone discloses domestic violence to you, there are agencies that can provide specialist help. Please see below:
Armistead (for people in same sex relationships)
Tel: 0151 227 1893Fire In Ice (for people in same sex relationships)
Tel: 0151 707 2614Police Family Crime Investigations Unit (North)
Lower Lane Police Station, Lower Lane, Liverpool 9
Office hours and answerphone - 0151 777 4586
Same sex relationships: Tel 07963 493 308Police Family Crime Investigations Unit (South)
Admiral Street Police Station, Admiral Street, Liverpool 8
Office hours and answerphone - 0151 777 5085The Freedom Programme is currently available for women and programmes are available through Jacqui at Chrysalis Tel: 0151 254 2640 or the Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project Tel: 0800 083 7114 (freephone).
For information on the current freedom programme please see the current poster
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Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project
Support for women in South Liverpool.
Tel: 0800 083 7114 (freephone)Chrysalis
Support, advice and outreach for survivors of domestic violence.
Tel: 0151 254 2640We Can Help
24 hour helpline: 0800 731 1313 (freephone)Women's and Children's Aid Centre
Refuge: 24 hour telephone - 0151 727 1355Worst Kept Secret
Helpline: 0800 028 3398 Textphone: 0800 028 3397
(Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm; Fr 9am-7pm; Sun 3-5pm. Answerphone all other times.)Amadudu
Refuge for ethnic minority women or those women with ethnic minority children.
Tel: 0151 734 0083
Supporting people programme
In April 2003 the Supporting People programme was introduced, by the government, to help vulnerable people to live independently. The programme delivers high quality and planned housing-related services such as support to pay household bills, including rent; making sure that homes are secure and personal safety is upheld; helping with benefit claims and filling in forms and supporting people to take control of their own home and look after their own money.Many people may need housing related support either to make it possible for them to remain safely in their own homes, or to support them if they are forced to move to alternative accommodation. If you want to know more about the Supporting People programme and if this may be something you are entitled to then please contact Careline on 0151 233 3800 or email wecanhelp@liverpool.gov.uk
For further information on the Supporting People programme nationally visit www.spkweb.org.uk or to download a general information leaflet for service users in Liverpool: Guide to Supporting People for Service Users
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What else you can do
Understand that the violence is not the person's fault, and that domestic violence should not be tolerated.
If you suspect that a colleague or a customer/client is being abused, it is important that you bring up the subject in order to improve, or even save, a person's life and the lives of any children involved.
Before asking direct questions regarding whether the person is being abused, it is best to begin with asking open questions. This will enable you to build a relationship with the person and will help you to gain their trust.
These are some examples of questions you could ask:
Open questions:
Is there anything else you wish to discuss?
Is there anything you are unhappy about?
Is everything alright at home?
Do you get on well with your partner?Direct questions:
Can you tell me how you got those injuries?
Do you feel frightened of your partner or anyone you live with?
Have you ever been physically injured by your partner?
Does your partner get jealous of you seeing friends or going out?
Has your partner ever: threatened to hurt you or the children; forced sex on you; destroyed or broken things you care about?
Does your partner often lose his temper with you. If so, what happens?