I woke up one morning having to fill a car up with as much as I could, along with two children.
I’d found myself in a situation many others also had, escaping domestic violence and moving to a new location, leaving our whole life behind. To try and put into words how scared we all were is impossible.
We arrived at the supported scheme, where I met my Southern Housing Support Worker, Maz, and the ever-amazing Dawn, the Service Co-ordinator. That was probably the first time in weeks that we had felt safe.
Straight away safety measures were put in place, and we completed a needs assessment to highlight what kind of support was required. Anything we needed help with was available straight away.
A support worker at the Homeless Prevention Team helped with rent, bills and food bank vouchers. Then, the family pathway service offered support with everything, including transferring into a two-bedroom home, attending court dates, hospital appointments and so much more. It was fantastic how these two services worked together to build a support system around us.
This support saved my life in so many ways. I would like to thank every single person who was involved in my journey.
A different story, shared strength
While the story above was shared anonymously, the video below features a different survivor who has chosen to speak out publicly about their experience with domestic abuse. We're grateful for their courage in sharing their story to help raise awareness and inspire hope.
Help and support
Everyone should feel safe in their home and local community. If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, a survivor of domestic abuse or require some information, our trained teams are here to help.
