Domestic Abuse

New Era  0300 303 3778 live chat facility www.new-era.uk  (24-hour) provides free and confidential round-the-clock advice and support for anyone in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent affected by domestic abuse - regardless of their age, ethnicity or gender.

Sometimes it's difficult to know

• Does your partner or ex-partner threaten you and your children?

• Are you and your children often frightened by your partner?

• Are you constantly degraded and picked on?

• Are you not allowed to have contact with friends and family?

• Does your partner constantly check where you have been, how much you spend, who you speak to?

Domestic Abuse covers a range of behaviours including physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse, within all types of relationships. This can include threats, constant criticism, isolation, money being controlled and forced sex

What can I do?

If you are being abused it is useful to talk to someone about what has happened, even if you do not want to do anything about it. Often it is helpful to speak to someone and get some support for yourself. Getting someone to record the incidents will help you in the future if you do decide to take action.

Useful Contacts:

In an emergency call 999

New Era  0300 303 3778 Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and live chat facility (24-hour)

Homeless 0345 605 3012 (Mon - Fri 9am - 4.30pm). Out of hours please call P3 on 0808 1692 333 or Email: outofhourshousing-derbys@p3charity.org

National Domestic Violence 24 Hour Helpline 0808 200 0247 You can talk confidentially to someone about your situation and find out what your options are.

Men's Advice Line  0808 801 0327 If you are a man experiencing domestic abuse

National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline  0800 999 5428 If you are in a same-sex relationship.

Glow domestic abuse helpline 0330 0945 559 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5.00pm) Is a local charity.

Housing options

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, one of the biggest decisions you will make is whether or not to leave your home. If you do not have anywhere to stay or are in any doubt about your housing options, then you should seek housing advice from our homelessness team. We can discuss your circumstances and talk through the options available to you, which will vary depending upon what is considered safe and appropriate for your needs. Options might include:

• Making a homelessness application
• Applying to go on the housing register
• Securing a place in a refuge
• Looking into private accommodation

It might be that you do not wish to leave your home, in which case our homelessness officers can discuss measures that would allow you to remain your home safely. This could be help with access to legal remedies such as injunctions where these might be effective or the provision of a sanctuary scheme or other security measures. Sanctuary schemes can prevent homelessness by enabling victims to remain safely in their home where it is their choice, and it is safe to do so. A sanctuary comprises enhanced security measures in the home which delay or prevent a perpetrator from gaining entry into and within a property, and allow time for the police to arrive. Use of sanctuary is not appropriate if the perpetrator lives at, or retains a legal right to enter the home, or if the victim continues to be at risk in the vicinity around the home.

Domestic abuse and eligibility

People who have no recourse to public funds are not generally eligible for homelessness assistance. However, the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession supports those who have entered or stayed in the UK as a spouse, unmarried partner, same-sex or civil partner of a British Citizen, or settled citizen and this relationship has permanently broken down due to domestic violence and abuse.

You can apply to the Home Office for limited leave to remain (three months) under the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession, to enable you to access public funds and advice, whilst you prepare and apply for indefinite leave to remain, or make alternative arrangements.