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Anna's Story...
Anna was referred to the Outreach Project by Blurton Children's Centre and arrived very nervous, unable to eat and afraid of being seriously harmed by her ex-partner. He had made serious threats to kill her. We immediately got a safety plan together and an alarm installed. We applied to the council for Anna to be re-housed, and a few weeks later she moved into a property near her children's school. However, she soon moved out following a serious health scare for her daughter, feeling she wasn't strong enough to manage on her own.
Time passed and her ex-partner continued to make threats and turn up at her children's school. Anna then started attending the Freedom Programme alongside the one-to-one support she was already accessing. She soon felt stronger and starting reporting incidents to the police. As Anna began to take control, we planned a move for her and her children out of the area, to where her extended family live. Anna finally made the move and recently phoned the Outreach team to thank them for giving her her life back. She is so grateful for the support she has received, she wanted to give something back and is applying to work for Women's Aid in her new area.
Domestic Violence Services
Arch Domestic Violence Helpline number 01782 205500
Most people will recognise the more obvious forms of domestic violence as the physical things such as hitting, punching and bruising. In reality, the more common forms of abuse are less obvious. Some of the tactics used can be belittling, forcing unwanted sexual acts, forced isolation and denial of money.
Elizabeth House opened following the opening of Tolkein House in the 1980's. Both provide a place of refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence environments; helping these victims to move into an independent life.
The inception of the only local Telephone Helpline in 1999 was the beginning of services provided in the community. Since 1999 we have developed a coherent and comprehensive community based service in response to feedback from our service users.
Arch is an integral component of services to families which experience domestic violence in North Staffordshire. The services we provide are:
Elizabeth & Tolkein House - refuges for women and their children who are escaping a domestic violence environment
Helpline Service - a confidential telephone support service that aims to make a difference to the lives of those experiencing domestic violence
Outreach support - this is the only dedicated domestic violence outreach service for women and children in the area
The Freedom Programme - a support and awareness programme aimed at keeping female victims of domestic violence safe
The Women's Prevention Programme aims to help female perpetrators of abuse to recognise and be accountable for their abusive behaviour
Relationships without Fear - a preventative project designed to address the taboo subject of domestic abuse with school children from Years 4 - 11
Male domestic violence support - information, practical, emotional and advocacy support to men who are\have experienced domestic violence
Men's Domestic Violence Prevention Work - support to help men who want to change their abusive attitudes and behaviour, to keep women and children safe
Training Programmes - educating professionals about the issues surrounding domestic violence
