Domestic Abuse Support Page

Here to help....

For some victims of domestic abuse, the school is a place of safety. It is somewhere victims can seek support without raising suspicions; parents often have to come into school to talk about their children and it can be used as a place to share information and seek support.

We are here to listen and help where we can.

If we can't help, we can certainly point people in the right direction. 

What you can do if you decide to leave...

A good starting point is to contact one of the following charities:

• West Mercia Women's Aid
• Refuge
• Men's Advice Line
• Galop (for LGBTQ+)

Women's Aid has useful information about making a safety plan that applies to both women and men, including advice if you decide to leave.

Survivor Pathway for victims of sexual abuse or violence

Signs of abuse...

There are different kinds of abuse, but it's always about having power and control over you. The follow lists, taken from NHS.uk are indicators that you, or someone you know, may be in an abusive relationship.

Emotional abuse

Does you partner ever:

• belittle you or put you down?
• blame you for the abuse or arguments?
• deny that abuse is happening, or downplay it?
• isolate you from your family and friends?
• stop you going to college or work?
• make unreasonable demands for your attention?
• accuse you of flirting or having affairs?
• tell you what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think?
• control your money, or not give you enough to buy food or other essential things?
• monitor your social media profiles, share photos or videos of you without your consent or use GPS tracking locators to know where you are?

Threats and intimidation

Does your partner ever:

• threaten to hurt or kill you?
• destroy things that belong to you?
• stand over you, invade your personal space?
• threaten to kill themselves or the children?
• read you emails, texts or letters?
• harass or follow you?

Physical Abuse

Does your partner ever:

• slap, punch or hit you?
• push or shove?
• bite or kick you?
• burn you?
• choke you or hold you down?
• throw things?

Sexual Abuse

Does your partner ever:

• touch you in a way you do not want to be touched?
• make unwanted sexual demands?
• hurt you during sex?
• pressure you into having unsafe sex?
• pressure you to have sex?

Helping a friend if they're being abused

If you're worried a friend is being abused, let them know you've noticed that something is wrong.

If someone confides in you that they are suffering domestic abuse:

• listen, and take care not to blame them
• acknowledge that it takes strength to talk to someone about experiencing abuse
• give them time to talk, but do not push them to talk if they do not want to
• acknowledge that they are in a a frightening and difficult situation
• tell them nobody deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser has said
• support them as a friend, encourage them to express their feelings, and allow them to make their own decision
• ask if they have suffered physical harm and if they have, offer to go with them to hospital or GP
• help them report the assault to the police if they choose to
• be ready to provide information about organisations that offer help for people experiencing domestic abuse