I have been a long time lurker and have been helped by a lot of advice on here. I'm hoping my experience will now help someone else.
I was in an emotionally/verbally abusive marriage for some time.
I was scared to leave due to fear of so many things; one of which was leaving with nothing and starting again.
I want to let other women in similar situations know that there is help out there. I was lucky enough to be offered a council house (due to the abuse) which came empty, a complete shell. However, after contacting the CAB over a different matter, I was advised that they could help me furnish this property. I was offered brand new furniture and white goods to help me provide a suitable, liveable home for me and my children. I had to provide carpets myself, but there was help for everything else. These items may be basic, but they were all I needed to get myself back on my feet and keep me and my children safe.
One of the reasons I didn’t leave earlier was through guilt of me not being able to provide my children a similar standard of living to what they were used to. We left with nothing but clothes and a few of their books and toys. We are now settled in a home of our own with very few belongings but we are safe and so much happier.
I just want others to know that there is help out there. I don’t know if this is something available in all areas of the UK but it is worth investigating. I stayed with my abusive ex for longer than I should have as I thought I had no other option.
Everyone has their own reasons for staying in an abusive relationship, if your reason is similar to mine was, please contact your local CAB office and ask if they can help.
I know there are women and children in worse situations than I was in and I'm hoping this advice doesn't come across as simplistic, but if I can help just one person take that huge terrifying leap then I need to post this.