Going to a refuge

[BlueIvy1]

I'm about to go into a refuge, just wanna hear from people who's been there before. Do social services get involved if you go to the refuge? How will the father see the children? I'm also a European citizen and I'm not eligible for housing benefit, so worry a lot if the refuge will even accept me?

Thanks

I don’t know, I’ve not been to one. But I hope you’re ok

Social services wouldn’t necessarily need to be involved if the children are safe. However as you are asking about the children seeing their father, (assuming he is the reason for you going to refuge) they might want to be reassured that he isn’t a danger to them. You might want to consider supervised contact if they must see their father.

naccc.org.uk/find-a-centre

I don’t know how the housing benefits work sorry.

Hi BlueIvy, I lived in a women's refuge in 2005 with a lady not eligible for HB as she was from Malaysia. They secured special funding somehow. Contact with the father is generally not advised to begin with due to the risk it will pose to you x

Op, I don’t have all your answers, sorry.

SS get involved if kids at risk, they are not always involved in women and kids going to refuge. As it shows you looking out for them by removing them from situation (poss dangerous etc)
You and kids can come n go from the refuge, but generally visits are arranged. Do u want father seeing kids? Does it need to be supervised? It depends why u are in refuse.
If in refuge to escape fathers violence, don’t let him see the kids unless supervised if at all.
Depends on age of kids...

If father unconnected to you being in refuge then they and you have just changed address so contact as usual.
Often men not allowed in refuges, often Andrews of refuge is secret not to be shared.

Speak to staff when you get there they will help answer your questions.

There is financial support for people with ‘no access to public funds’ ie they aren’t allowed to claim benefits. Advisors can help.
ITs tough, good luck 😉

Address not Andrews!

I breathed a big sigh of relief when I read that thank you so much fruitcider

There's no violence user1 although he's thrown things at me when we argue, it's more emotional abuse. I can't take it anymore, I feel like I'm constantly holding my breath and walking on eggshells.