Scottish Women's Aid has launched a new 24 hour support service and helpline for people experiencing domestic abuse or forced marriage
Women and men who are affected by domestic abuse or forced marriage can now access 24-hour support through Scottish Women’s Aid.
Management of the domestic abuse and forced marriage emergency helpline was transferred to the national charity earlier this year with funding from the Scottish Government. It has since supported more than 2,140 people in crisis.
The new service includes a website offering advice to men and women affected by domestic abuse or forced marriage, and email address and multi-lingual leaflets and posters that are now on display across Scotland.
The helpline is so vital. I first called five days after I fled; I needed to keep my child safe. The words they used, the way they spoke to me, listened to me and believed me changed my life
The helpline offers crisis support, agency referrals, emotional support, as well as guidance with housing, safety planning, and benefits. The helpline also supports professionals, family members, colleagues and friends who are concerned about someone they know.
With dedicated helpline staff available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week – supported by a confidential translation service for those who do not speak English – the Scottish Women’s Aid service emphasises how important it is for people to have somewhere supportive and safe to speak about their experiences.
Nicola is a survivor of domestic abuse and credits the helpline for supporting her to leave her abusive partner.
She said: “The helpline is so vital. I first called five days after I fled; I needed to keep my child safe. The words they used, the way they spoke to me, listened to me and believed me changed my life.
“Women’s Aid made so many pieces of the jigsaw come together. My whole mind set then changed. But it took me another five months to get my head around everything. That he really did do these things on purpose, that he wasn’t going to jump off a bridge if I didn’t go back.
“They were there when I was terrified with the police at my door after he falsely accused me of assault, when he turned up at my door after my son and I had been in hiding for 18 months, when he took me to court for access despite years of no contact. Every step of the way I’ve had support. I just had to make a call and someone was there to help.”
Nicola continues to be supported by her local women’s aid group, and would encourage those in need of help to call the helpline: “It changed my life,” she said.
A new feature of the helpline is a stronger focus on forced marriage.
A forced marriage is one where one or both parties do not freely consent to being married. It is critical that this is not confused with arranged marriage, which is a legal and respected cultural tradition where both men and women agree to marry.
Common experiences for those who might be experiencing forced marriage include being forced to meet a prospective groom or bride; told that you will bring shame to family or younger siblings; being taken overseas for wedding ceremonies and having your movements and/or conversations controlled or monitored.
Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “We are so pleased to be providing this 24/7 service.
“We have assembled a skilled and specially trained staff team made up of the most incredibly warm and welcoming women as well a new phone system that connects male callers directly to a specialist service designed just for men.
We are immensely proud of the work done so far to make Scotland's domestic abuse and forced marriage Helpline the best it can be, and the launch this week marks an important milestone. With the support of the Scottish Government and partners across Scotland, we plan to end domestic abuse and forced marriage; in the meantime, those in need of help can be assured that our new helpline is there for them when they need it.”
