Home Options: Domestic Violence Referral
The Government defines domestic violence as "Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality."
Birmingham City Council recognises its responsibility in ensuring a safe community to its residents and is committed to tackling domestic violence. As a demonstration of our commitment, we have along with other key partners, for example Police and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWAID) launched a Pan-Birmingham Domestic Violence Strategy 2006-09 with the aim of bringing together the range of partners involved in tackling domestic violence.
We recognise that survivors of domestic violence/abuse may be afraid to get help and may be too scared to even speak about the problems they are having. We have developed a special service which will provide them with free and confidential advice and support. We will take into account any cultural or religious factors when dealing with survivors of domestic violence and aim to give them as much support as possible.
Who can contact us?
- Children and their families;
- The person subject to domestic violence;
- Relatives, friends, neighbours and;
- Professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses and health visitors.
All victims of domestic violence are encouraged to report incidents to their local police on 0345 113 5000 or by calling 999 in an emergency. If outside office hours contact the Out of hours Domestic Violence Helpline on 0121 643 4800 or the Social Services Emergency Duty Team on 0121 475 4806.
Further Contact details are listed below.
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Housing Department DV Helpline
Telephone: 0121 303 6658
Out of Hours DV Helpline
Telephone: 0121 643 4800
BHAROSA - This helpline provides a confidential, culturally, linguistically sensitive counselling and advice service for Asian Women and Families
Telephone: 0121 303 0368 or 0121 303 0369
Housing Department DV Helpline
Telephone: 0121 303 6658
Equalities Division - Policy information on domestic violence
Telephone: 0121 303 2545
Neighbourhood Advice and Information Services
Telephone: 0121 303 1111
Rape and Sexual Violence Project - Help lines for persons affected by rape or sexual abuse
Telephone: 0121 643 5600
Youth Link - Local agency providing support, information and advocacy to children and young people
Telephone: 0121 236 0323
Victim Support Schemes
Victim Support Line: 0845 303 0900
Central & West Birmingham: 0121 455 8211
East Birmingham : 0121 327 6133
South West Birmingham: 0121 444 0327
North Birmingham: 0121 386 4300
Sparkhill: 0121 772 0040
North Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield (Erdington): 0121 354 4321
Women Acting In Today’s Society (WAITS)
Telephone: 0121 440 7000
Aquarius Women’s Alcohol Project
Telephone: 0121 233 4788
Aquarius Head Office
Telephone: 0121 632 4727
Home-Start
Telephone: 0121 747 4631
Services Targeted at Specific Groups
Asian Resource Centre
Telephone: 0121 523 0580
Women’s Help Centre
Telephone: 0121 551 2370
Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre
Telephone: 0121 455 6382
Refocus (African/Caribbean)
Telephone: 0121 772 4326
Birmingham Chinese Community Centre
Telephone: 0121 685 8510
Disability West Midlands
Telephone: 0121 414 1616
Disability Resource Centre
Telephone: 0121 789 7365
Men's Advice Line and Enquiries
Telephone: 0181 644 9914
24 hour Helpline Numbers
Careline
Telephone: 0181 514 1177
NHS Direct
Telephone: 0845 4647NSPCC - National Society for Protection Against Cruelty to Children
Telephone: 0800 800500
Women’s Aid
Telephone: 0345 023468
Refuge 24-hour National Crisis Line
Telephone: 0990 995 443
Childcare Information Bureau (Provides information on child care facilities)
Telephone: 01213033521
The Education Welfare Service (Help on matters relating to children)North Birmingham: 0121 303 8900
South Birmingham: 0121 303 8050
Central Birmingham: 0121 303 1200
Social Services Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours)
Telephone: 0121 475 4806
Services Related to Children
Child Line 24 hours helpline
Telephone: 0800 1111
Children's Society - Offering child-centred specialist support services for families experiencing domestic violence
Telephone: 0121 356 7919
KIDS - A family centre providing services and support for children and their families. All services are fully integrated for children with special needs whilst work is on-going with parents and carers
Telephone: 0121 355 2707
Family Service Units
East Birmingham (particularly for South Asian families): 0121 772 4217
Kings Norton: 0121 459 4232
West Midlands Police
Aston: 0121 322 6128
Bournville: 0121 626 4134
Chelmsley Wood: 0121 712 6113
Handsworth (Thornhill Road): 0121 626 5976
Kings Heath: 0121 626 4125
Stechford: 0121 626 7135
Sutton Coldfield: 0121 322 6136
Rose Road: 0121 626 6105
Steelhouse Lane, Central Birmingham: 0121 626 8717
General Support Agencies
Samaritans (National): 0345 909 090
Samaritans (Birmingham): 0121 666 6644 (24 hour counselling service)
Citizens Advice Bureau’s Telephone Service
Telephone: 0121 248 4850
Legal Helplines
Telephone: 07767 888 855, 07767 2001818
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Abuse and threats between intimate partners or family members can be physical, verbal, psychological, and financial. It includes but is not limited to name calling and putting someone down, making them appear stupid, withholding money, actual or threatened physical harm, threatening to take the children away or commit suicide.
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You can book an appointment or visit your local neighbourhood office, who will be able to provide you with a full benefit check and assist you to claim any benefits or tax credits that you are entitled to.
They will also discuss your housing options, which can include a referral to Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, or an application for emergency accommodation or if you wish make an appointment to be interviewed by a homeless interviewing officer who will assist you to make a homeless application.
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The Housing Department is working closely with West Midlands Police, Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWAID), West Midlands Fire Service and Community Safety partnership in order to provide a safe, secure alternative for victims of domestic violence, where the perpetrator is not living with the victim.
Some of the security measures can include;
- New locks;
- Door viewer;
- Door chains;
- Fire safety equipment;
- Provision of a safe “sanctuary” room;
- Provision of a mobile phone.
Eligibility
- The project is cross tenure, so referrals can be accepted from local authority and RSL tenants as well as private tenants and owner occupiers;
- The perpetrator must not live in the property;
- Sanctuary is a choice, so this must be a genuine option for victims of domestic violence;
- Person must be at risk of homelessness due to domestic violence;
- The victim must be the sole tenant/owner. However, where the property is in joint names the victim will be given support and help from the BSWAID Sanctuary support workers to access legal and civil remedies to prevent the perpetrator from accessing the property.
Making a Referral
If you are a woman you can refer yourself to Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, contact details are listed below
Or
You can visit any neighbourhood office who will make a referral to this service through the Domestic Violence Home Options to Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid who will undertake a face to face interview with the woman, exploring this and other options.
If you are a man you can refer yourself to this scheme via sanctuary@birmingham.gov.uk.
Or
You can visit any Neighbourhood Office who will undertake F2F interview with the man and explore sanctuary and other options with them and make referral to above address if appropriate.
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Visual Evidence for Victims (VEV) project allows victims of any violent crime to have evidential photograph taken by a voluntary agency. These photographs are admissible as evidence in court and are stored securely at the supporting agency.
Visual Evidence for Victims supports victims of crime (aged 18 and over) that are not yet ready to go to the police, for whatever reason. VEV was set up to allow victims to have evidence of a crime recorded by a voluntary sector agency in confidence. The agencies involved in the project are trained to record photographic evidence that is admissible as evidence in court. The project is supported by West Midlands Police, but it is managed by Victim Support West Midlands and is entirely independent from the police.
The approved Polaroid cameras are used to take photograph of injuries to people or damage to property caused by Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence or Hate crime (crimes committed against an individual because of their sexuality, race religion disability).
VEV service is completely confidential and free of charge. We will NOT tell anyone else that we have taken photographs.
The supporting agencies store the photographs securely for future use, and they can be kept for up to 6 years. The evidence can be used for reporting crime to the police at a later stage, and in any criminal proceedings as a result. It can also be used in civil proceedings (for example to get an injunction), or to support a claim for criminal injuries compensation. The victim is able to decide when and if the photographs are used. If the victim wishes to use them as evidence they must give their signed consent. If the victim no longer wishes for the photo to be kept.
VEV agencies in Birmingham can be found by following this link.
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Domestic violence/abuse can affect both men and women as well as people who are lesbian, gay or transgendered.
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We work with a range of organisations to help victims escape the situation and find somewhere safe to stay. If you need help with your housing or benefit entitlement, the first thing you need to do is to contact our Home Options service at any of our neighbourhood offices to tell us about the problems you are facing. This is a friendly and confidential service to make sure you get the help you need as quickly as possible. You can either:
- Call us on 0121 303 1111 to book a convenient appointment at the neighbourhood office
- Visit the Neighbourhood Office who will offer you an emergency appointment on the same day.
