Domestic abuse is when you are controlled, bullied, or threatened by your partner or a family member, who wants to gain control over you.
Often people think that domestic abuse is only physical abuse, but it can also be mental, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial abuse.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and it is very common with around 1 in 4 women experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime.
Honour-based violence (HBV) refers to a set of practices aimed at controlling behavior within families or social groups to preserve perceived cultural or religious beliefs and honour. This often occurs when perpetrators believe a relative has dishonored the family or community by violating their code of honour. For example, a family may expect their daughter or son to marry a specific person. If the child refuses, the family might pressure them, resort to violence, or in some cases, arrange an overseas marriage and force them into it.
The UK government and law enforcement agencies take HBV seriously. If you or someone you know is a victim of honour-based violence, get in touch to find out how we can help.
Leaving an abusive relationship is a challenging and lengthy process. It’s crucial to understand that leaving is a journey and the risk of abuse often escalates at the point of departure.
There are several complex reasons why a woman might not leave an abusive relationship, including:
By understanding the many barriers that stand in the way of a woman leaving an abusive relationship, we can begin to support and empower women to make the best decision for them while holding abusers solely accountable for their behaviour.
Our services include safe accommodation, IDSVA service, child therapeutic services, in-house counselling, specialist support for ethnically diverse women and those with no recourse to public funds, and peer support groups. Our early intervention and prevention services include awareness talks and training for professionals (including the police, local housing teams and GPs).
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. We are here to help and support you, whatever your needs. Simply call us and our knowledgeable and friendly team can offer practical and emotional support, or a listening ear.
We support victims and survivors of domestic abuse who live in the London boroughs of Bromley & Croydon. We are able to accept a small number of refuge referrals for women with No Recourse to Public Funds from outside these areas, and our Japanese support service helps women throughout England.
You can refer yourself to any of our services by calling our mainline on 020 8313 9303 and one of our friendly team will help you.
If you are looking for a refuge space, please call 020 8313 9303 (Option 1) to check our current vacancies.
When you move to a BCWA refuge, your children will be welcomed by Child Support Officers, who will take care of them while you settle in. Our larger refuges have fully equipped playrooms, where the project workers organise activities, after-school clubs, play sessions and one-to-one therapeutic activities. During school holidays we organise trips & outings for you and your children to the seaside, theatres, museums, farms, etc
We support anyone who has had or is still in an abusive relationship. We won’t ever tell you what to do or make choices for you. If you want to stay with your partner we can still offer you support.
We recognise that domestic abuse may affect both women and men, and believe that no one should suffer from domestic abuse.
All BCWA locations are women-only spaces but men can be supported at the One Stop Shop or by the IDSVA service in Bromley.
Charities specialising in support for male victims/survivors of domestic abuse include:
Domestic abuse in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community is a serious issue. Around 25% of LGBTQ+ individuals experience violent, abusive, or threatening relationships with partners or ex-partners. This is also underreported and those in abusive relationships are often afraid of revealing their sexuality or gender identity, or the nature of their relationship.
For support, call the National LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428 or visit www.galop.org.uk.
We can only offer counselling sessions to our current service users.
Your confidentiality and safety are our top priorities but we understand that sharing personal information can be daunting, especially in situations involving domestic abuse.
We ask for your personal information to ensure that we can provide you with the most effective support tailored to your specific needs. This information allows us to assess your situation accurately, offer appropriate resources, and coordinate the necessary services to help you. Rest assured, any details you share with us are handled with the utmost care and are only used for the purpose of supporting you. We never share your information without your consent unless required by law for your safety or the safety of others.
If you ring our helpline for advice you do not have to tell us your partner’s name. However, if you need to come into a refuge we will ask you for your partner’s details – including their name and a description. This is so that we can keep you and other residents safe.
We will never share personal details or confirm if an individual is known to us over the phone. Please email info@bcwa.org.uk if you have a request for information.
We understand that financial difficulties can be a significant challenge for those experiencing domestic abuse. However, we do not provide direct financial assistance to individuals. We may be able to connect you with organisations that offer direct financial assistance or emergency funds for victims/survivors of domestic abuse.