Help for Survivors of Domestic Abuse
A service that offers help and advice to survivors of domestic abuse was today re-launched in a bid to further promote the service.
Bharosa (Trust) Domestic Abuse Service provides a service to all communities and is particularly aimed at hard to reach south Asian communities. It provides a culturally sensitive service in a variety of languages including English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Mirpuri, Pakistani and Bengali/Sylheti and has now been extended to include Somali, Arabic and east European languages with the support of interpreters.
Councillor Sue Anderson, Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities, said: “The name Bharosa means trust and hope and the Bharosa staff can help women to express their feelings and identify options available to them so they can make informed decisions.
“The service offers confidential counselling advice, support, practical guidance and assistance on issues such as self-esteem, confidence, domestic abuse, education, housing, welfare benefits, relationship breakdowns and forced marriages.
“Domestic violence is a crime and can happen to anyone regardless of sex, age, race, religion, class, disability or lifestyle. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial or psychological. We must confront and challenge the reality of domestic violence in this city.”
A woman has been helped by the service after fleeing her home following physical and sexual abuse by her husband. She had two children and was living in a refuge. She received counselling and support from Bharosa through referrals to support services and has now found accommodation where she is living with her two children. She has said she now feels less isolated, her self-esteem and confidence have grown and she is accessing services for herself and her children.
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