Covid-19 – Information and updates to service provision

This update includes:

  • service updates
  • safety planning
  • useful contacts

For those families affected by domestic abuse the home is unlikely to be a safe place. This will be due to:

  • additional pressures caused by illness, self-isolation, social distancing and financial worries
  • spending more time together without being able to leave the home for work or leisure activities

Hampshire’s domestic abuse services are still available to help people through telephone, email and online support. There is no longer a face to face support option. As a result of the current Covid-19 situation victims are likely to find it harder to access a computer or speak to someone for safety planning information without alerting the perpetrator.

The following information is intended to help if you:

  • are trying to support someone
  • are communicating information through your website and social media channels
Service updates

  1. The Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service Advice Line (provided by Stop Domestic Abuse) is available for victims, children, perpetrators and professionals. It is for initial advice and referral into services
    • Phone for victims - 03300 165 112 - 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am to 5pm Friday. Access to refuge is available 24/7 if necessary
    • Phone for professionals - 03300 165 112 – 11.30am to 2.30pm (Monday to Friday). Access to refuge is available 24/7 if necessary
    • Email advice@stopdomesticabuse.uk
    • Virtual Drop-in Service - for victims of domestic abuse who cannot access a telephone due to isolating with someone who is hurting them will be able to contact a worker via messenger 9.30am to 11.30am, 3pm to 5pm, 6pm to 8pm Monday to Friday. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Southerndas/
  2. Hampton Trust – perpetrator service additional support line for professionals during COVID-19 crisis
  3. Stop Domestic Abuse – providing services for victims, survivors and the children's service
    Stop Domestic Abuse service update
    Freedom Programme via Zoom - phone the Advice Line on 03300 165 112 to book a place
  4. Victim Care Service – providing support to victims of crime, who are a resident of Hampshire or the Isle of Wight. Domestic abuse support is provided to victims at standard risk
    Victim Care service update
  5. Hampshire Constabulary - Where to get help during Covid-19 - posters and flyers produced by Hampshire Constabulary, which can be used to communicate services and support for domestic abuse
  6. You Trust - working with victims and survivors of domestic abuse
    YOU Trust service update
  7. Aurora New Dawn
    New domestic abuse police hotline, in place of the DVA cars project
    Domestic Abuse Helpline COVID-19 Response: poster
Safety planning

  1. Alongside normal safety planning information, the following may be helpful if domestic abuse specialist services are not already involved and/or agreed safety plans in place. For example, if you are concerned about a work colleague, neighbour or client:
    • consider setting up a system whereby the victim sends you a pre-determined code word by a certain time of day to advise that they are OK (or not)
    • agree with the victim what should happen if you don’t receive this message – e.g. should you alert the police / contact their designated safe person etc
    • try to call the person regularly (if safe to do so), in order to reduce isolation
    • reinforce the message to call 999 in an emergency
  2. Hampshire Police Safety Planning leaflet
  3. Aurora New Dawn – Safety planning hints and tips for professionals working with
    • Children and young people
    • Victims/survivors living with their abuser during self-isolation
    • Email info@aurorand.org.uk for copies.
  4. Hampshire Safeguarding Children Partnership: Managing self-harm resource sheet
Resources

  1. Economic abuse
    If you are concerned about how coronavirus may affect your finances and leave you vulnerable to economic abuse, please see the advice provided by HM Treasury on what support is on offer.
    The charity Surviving Economic Abuse has also provided additional guidance and support.
  2. Welfare benefits and housing advice
    The Department for Work and Pensions has published up-to-date coronavirus-related welfare benefits information.
    If you are concerned about your financial situation, you can contact Turn2us. They help people to access the money available to them through welfare benefits and grants. Their website has an income-related benefits checker enabling you to check that you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to. 
    Shelter provide free confidential housing information, support and legal advice on all housing and homelessness issues. They also have an emergency helpline: 0808 800 4444
  3. TalkPlus
    Accepting referrals for free NHS Counselling and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
    https://www.talkplus.org.uk/
Useful contacts

Alongside the specialist domestic abuse services, details of the local Citizens Advice branches and housing teams are provided. These are likely to be needed as financial and housing concerns lead to increased pressure in households.

Hampshire contacts

National Domestic Abuse Helplines and websites

  • 24 hour Domestic Abuse helpline (female victims):
    Phone 0808 2000247
    National Domestic Abuse Helpline
  • Karma Nirvana (for 'Honour' based abuse):
    Phone 0800 5999 247
    Email: support@karmanirvana.org.uk
  • Male Advice line:
    Phone 0808 8010327
    Men's advice line
  • Mankind Initiative:
    Phone 01823 334244
    ManKind Initiative
  • National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse helpline:
    Phone 0800 9995428
    Galop
  • Respect National helpline (perpetrator help):
    Phone 0808 8024040
    Respect National helpline
  • Shelter Emergency Helpline:
    Phone 0808 800 4444
  • SignHealth (providing domestic abuse service support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL).
    WhatsApp or Facetime: 07970 350366
    Telephone: 020 3947 2601
    Email: da@signhealth.org.uk
  • Stay Safe East
    Stay Safe East provides specialist and holistic advocacy and support services to disabled victims and survivors of abuse.

Contributors to this update include Karen Evans (Safer North Hampshire), Aurora New Dawn, Stop Domestic Abuse, Hampton Trust, Victim Care Service and Hampshire Constabulary.