Support for women fleeing domestic abuse

In April last year Women’s Housing Action Group, (WHAG) took over the provision of Domestic Abuse Services in the Borough. This included services previously provided by WHAG, Rochdale Women’s Refuge and RIADVF (omega center). Although some of the names have gone the service has remained the same.

The Domestic Abuse service is made up of different parts in the hope that we can meet the needs of as many women in the borough as possible.

The Domestic Abuse accommodation service is Communal Accommodation and is a confidential address where women can be sure they are safe. Any woman who has experienced Domestic Abuse, emotional, physical, financial or sexual can be referred to the accommodation, with or without children and they can stay for up to 12 months.
The staff are committed to provide a high quality of both emotional and practical support.

Women are offered support with:

• Finding a safe new home 
• Budgeting and welfare benefits 
• Accessing health services 
• Finding nurseries and schools 
• Accessing local community and cultural services 
• Gaining legal advice, including accompanying women to appointments and court 
• Safety planning 
• Training, education and employment 
• Life skills

How do you refer?

• Referrals can be self-referrals or agency referrals
•  Referral forms can be found on the SHELTER (http://england.shelter.org.uk/) or WHAG (http://www.whag.info/) websites. 

WHAG can also support women who wish to stay in their own tenancy in the same way and can provide short term resettlement support to help them move.

Referrals can be made directly to WHAG or via SHELTER. WHAG can also now support male victims of Domestic abuse. Refer directly to WHAG or for more information contact 01706 718180.