If I just turn up at refuge.....

[junecarter]

.....with 4 kids, no money, from abroad (europe),what will happen?

You will be fine. Be brave.

Could it be worse than what you are living now? Ask yourself that.

june good luck with making this difficult step, I am sure you won't regret it in the long term.

What about contacting your embassy for help?

I have a feeling that you can call/email WA from abroad.

Check out the site and see if you can email them for guidance.

YES you will be OK. read that again... you will be OK! You need to do it, and you need to do it for your babies - let them be free of him and enjoy their lives with a mother who isn't scared. You owe it to them and yourselves.

addresses are usually secret....so you will need to phone them

i did this with 4 dc,and it turned out fine June!!

are you forces by any chance??

June
I hope you can get back to this thread. I am in Europe, in Switzerland. Near Geneva.

If you need help on the ground there, there are lots of MNetters scattered around Europe. I understand that you will not want to post on here where you are, but if you do need more assistance let us know.

Does anyone have the list that I have seen posted - what to do, what to take, what to think of?

do you mean the escape one?

Yes, Scurry. That is it. Thanks.

I work for Women's Aid.

Different groups all work slightly differently, but what you can do is try to get some basics together - id such as passport, driving license, birth certificates e.c.t. will be really helpful if you can manage it - and then either phone Women's Aid, or if you know where your local Women's Aid information centre is, go there and explain you need refuge urgently. Where you go will depend on where there's space and it may be that it's safer for you to go to a refuge away from your home town. Women's Aid will help you get to where you need to go. They should also help you with basics such as food and toiletries until you are in receipt of benefits. Once you are in refuge the staff there will help you to claim all the benefits you need. You will be able to stay in refuge until you are safely rehoused if that is what you want.

I'm assuming that if you are British by birth that you have recourse to public funds.

You are taking an immensely brave step in leaving and I wish you all the very very best.

Oh gosh sorry - just read that you are living abroad. Are you able to get back to Britain? If so, the same advice applies.

Can I repeat the advice offered earlier in the thread about contacting your local British Embassy. They should be able to help you and I should think provide a place from which you could phone women's aid.

Hi,
I worked in a refuge for many years, if you can get to the Uk and get to a police station or housing office and explain your situation they will be able to assist you in getting to a refuge. They will have links with their local refuge(not always women's aid)and will have helped women and children many times by calling around and looking for space which they can do for you. From there either the refuge or the person calling will arrange transport.
The refuge I worked in was covered by staff 24 hrs a day so even during the night we could accomodate families however to my knowledge some don't. I can tell you through lots of experience, I am confident space will be found for you in a refuge. I hope you have made your mind up to do it. Take care.

june you will be ok. As you say, ou've planned this for a long time. You will be ok!