Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Funding crisis in domestic violence service provision

34 replies

Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 05/12/2011 14:12

i have read two threads on here in very recent times and it both cases the OP was fleeing a domestic violence situation and womens aid was unable to help. In the last thread, the OP said the phone call she made took about 15 sec while they told her they had no space.

I am so horrified that a woman who picks up the courage to call for help can be turned away and dismissed so shortly. I know the funding mustn't be there. Is there anything we can do?

I would quite happily take a woman and her child in to my home as an emergency if it meant her leaving such a situation. Could we have some kind of support system on here?

I realise that there are probably a lot of issues I am ot aware of, I just hope we can do something to improve the chances of women and children in such circumstances.

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 05/12/2011 14:47

I think it's bigger than this. I understand that is a big upsurge in domestic violence at the moment, and I wonder if we can influence this politically as well as making contact between MN and, for example, Women's Aid?

aubergineinautumn · 05/12/2011 14:55

AFAIK local women's aids are funded by local authorities so lobby your councillors to give them more funding. Also lobby you MP to make sure that DV funding is ring-fenced.

You could also host a fundraising event and donate the proceeds to your local centre?

savy57 · 05/12/2011 15:00

i agree with the ops u have read from i called womans aid a few months ago for domestic violence was offered if i wanted to talk to somebody about my feelings Hmm the call was very short the did however take my details and told me somebody would phone me back as i asked about acomodation it took them 2 weeks to even call me back, and i am not joking lady said she only recieve my referal the day before it

BoffinMum · 05/12/2011 15:07

Oh dear, is this a common problem then, I wonder?

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 05/12/2011 15:30

I've always thought (naively) that a bed would be found for someone fleeing dv. That they would be told in a 15second phone call that they can't help is just mind boggling.

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 05/12/2011 15:36

I am afraid that is the reality of Britain at the moment.

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 05/12/2011 15:40

Do you not think that the power of mumsnet could do something about it though?

OP posts:
MNHQ
RebeccaHallsWithBoughsOMumsnet · 05/12/2011 16:44

Hi Fisharefriendsnotmincepies

Thank you for posting about this, we are moving this thread to Women's rights as Mumsnet Campaigns Talk topic is for campaigns Mumsnet is running.

We have flagged this thread to our campaigns team who will take a look and be in touch.

Best wishes
MNHQ

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 05/12/2011 16:45

Oops sorry Blush

OP posts:
MNHQ
RebeccaHallsWithBoughsOMumsnet · 05/12/2011 16:47

Not a problem Fish Xmas Smile

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 05/12/2011 18:17

Bump

OP posts:
MMMarmite · 05/12/2011 20:59

Yes I'm worried about this too. I donated some money to Women's Aid after reading a thread where a women in danger kept phoning them but couldn't get through. It seems the situation's even worse than I thought, and is gonna need bigger solutions than just a donation.

Is there any way we could get someone from women's aid on here to talk about what they need and how we can help? Boffinmum's idea seems a good one.

MMMarmite · 05/12/2011 21:02

I'm really sorry to hear about your experience savy57, and quite shocked at how long it took them to help you. Are you safe now?

craftyknickers · 05/12/2011 21:09

Any campaign for women's aid I'd very much lille to be a part of, it is the worst time in your life when you are trying to get out and when you finally get the courage to pick up that phone getting turned down must be crushing.

I am lucky enough not have needed a bed from women's aid but I know how I would have felt if I got turned away, it would have made me stay probably and who knows what would have happened to me

savy57 · 05/12/2011 21:12

yes im fine now had to move house myself whick took time, recently changed numbers ect but with a little one this was very expensive but i was lucky i had an income to use to do this all be it we lived on praticaly nothing for a few months we are alot safer now, thank you

savy57 · 05/12/2011 21:17

just in response to MMMarmite as well i didnt recieve any help from them sure they eventualy offered it but by this time i had all ready started the process myself plus tbh i was ashamed to ask for help in the first place and very embarrassed to have even put myself in the position i was in with exp that i was quite offended by the phone call from them 2 weeks later
i dont no if offended is the right word hope use can understand what i mean after plucking up the courage to ask for the help then that happened i felt as if it was just a joke to them

MMMarmite · 05/12/2011 21:39

I'm glad to hear you managed to move savy. Sound's like you're an amazing role model to your little one :)

Thankfully I've never been in your situation, but I understand that it must take an awful lot of courage to pick up the phone and tell someone. It's terrible that they let you down. I wonder how many women end up staying in bad situations because of this. :(

forkful · 05/12/2011 21:49

I think that this map of gaps is relevant.

Published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It maps by areas the (lack of Sad) specialised support services in their area for women who experience violence.

You can check for your own local area what is available.

I found it via the End Violence Against Women Coalition.

OldLadyKnowsSantaClaus · 05/12/2011 22:31

Savy, I'm a bit shocked they phoned you back at all. That was utterly fotbidden in my day, but perhaps the policy has changed now so many folk have personal phones.

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 05/12/2011 22:38

I really hope mnhq look at this. Surely most women on here will be interested in this issue. Am a bit Confused at the number of posts to be honest

OP posts:
TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat · 06/12/2011 09:32

I live in the east of England where (I think) we have always had the least resources, but wasn't aware anywhere was so under resourced and or over stretched that women were being turned away within seconds. I don't like to imagine how that must feel. It is difficult even to get through to my local helpline.

Would be good to hear from WA and learn what's needed and how we can help.

TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat · 06/12/2011 09:38

I think if the thread title mentioned the funding crisis it might attract more attention. Can it be amended?

Original poster
Fisharefriendsnotmincepies · 06/12/2011 09:53

I've asked mnhq if I can amend the title. I also think it being in the feminism topic will sadly keep a lot of people away.

OP posts:
Prolesworth · 06/12/2011 10:03

This would be a good issue for the #frothers to take up

BertieBotts · 06/12/2011 11:45

You could try posting in AIBU, AIBU to be shocked that DV services are turning people away (or something) - because it is shocking, and I think even if people are not feminists most people recognise that refuges are a really important service.

That map of gaps is quite worrying indeed.