Is there anything I can do?

[GoF1sh]

Name changed and posting here for traffic.

My local shop has recently had an outside launderette put out the front, which I used this morning to get my duvets washed. Whilst I was waiting for them to finish drying, a woman came over with a few of bags to wash.

We got chatting for a couple of minutes, then she realised it was card payment, and she only had cash. I said no problem, I'll use my card and you just give me the money. I then noticed she had bruises on her throat, 3 finger print bruises one side and a thumb the other side.

She seemed really worried about getting all her washing done, so I offered to come back and do the same when the load had finished. I gave her my number so she could let me know when she was ready. It ended up being 4 loads which gave us quite a while to make small talk. She is much younger than I first thought (late teens) married and pregnant.

I haven't stopped thinking about her since. She is from a minority background, one that I know value their privacy and I feel there is nothing I can do except hope she is OK.

I have told her to call me if she needs me to do the same again as she doesn't have a washing machine or a bank card. I know it sounds odd as I don't even know the woman, but I'm really hoping she calls every time she needs to do her washing just so I know she is ok. Realistically, is there anything else I can do?

Anyone?

You have already done a good thing. She knows she is not truly alone.

Nothing for you to do really

You could leave leave some leaflets about refuge around the laundrette. I would feel the same but there’s not much else you can do unless you do happen to see her again.

Blimey you've gone over and above already! Well done!

Thanks. I know there's a few people who post on here who share her ethnic background. I'm hoping they read this and can tell me how they would help.

Really, I know there isn't anything else to do, it's none ofmybusiness. It's probably upset me so much as she is the same age I was when I was pregnant with my eldest, now almost 14 and in an abusive relationship. It reminded me how scared I was and how it could be my child in a couple of years. I don't know, I couldn't ask anyone around here as I don't want it to come across as gossiping etc. Maybe I just needed to offload it anonymously. Thanks for the replies, I think I will find some leaflets, seems the best option.

Yes there is. She will be under the care of a midwife and then health visitor.

Do you know her name?

You can call the doctors surgery and ask them to put it forward as a safeguarding issue.

You aren't just helping her but the future of that baby.

@GoF1sh

Thanks. I know there's a few people who post on here who share her ethnic background. I'm hoping they read this and can tell me how they would help.

But you haven't said what ethnic background?

How could anyone tell if they share it?

@Handsoffstrikesagain Yes she is.

She will be under the care of a midwife

This.

@TypeThoseFeelingsOutGoodWoman

Yes there is. She will be under the care of a midwife and then health visitor.

Do you know her name?

You can call the doctors surgery and ask them to put it forward as a safeguarding issue.

You aren't just helping her but the future of that baby.

She may not be engaging in any kind of pre-date care at all, I don't think yo can assume that.

You did a good thing OP now all you can do is hope she contacts you again. Do you know where she lives, is there a more settled site near by that she might live on?

Could you perhaps call local GPs and pass on to the HV as hopefully she will be under them? And if she is not they may be able to help with next steps or know any other types of intervention appropriate as you say she is very young. Well done for going above and beyond OP!

Yes, there is a site a few minutes away from me that she lives on. She did mention about having her niece over for Easter, so maybe a family member will see and help.
She said she will call when she needs to do some washing, I might ask if she fancies a coffee after or something.

If I was the lady in question I would
Be mortified if I found out a random stranger on the streets was phoning around the local gp surgeries trying to identify me and telling them I was abused and vulnerable.

I wasn't going to do that, @mummylovesthesunshine.

I may actually ask for this to be deleted. She would also probably be mortified to read this and I didn't think about that before posting.

Just leave it