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“targeted action and support to overcome barriers to accessing safety and support. Women who are known to be especially vulnerable to violence and/or who are marginalised, such as women in prostitution, women from BME communities, disabled women, women with mental health or substance abuse problems, young women in care, will require specialised approaches”
Feedback suggests survivors of domestic abuse have a range of support needs including better awareness and understanding, help with feelings of isolation, non- time limited support, and support for children within the abusive relationship;
“I think we need more awareness of what is available [...] a lot of people are afraid of going into a refuge.”
“I think we need more awareness earlier – in early teens.” “Being understood by support workers is really important.”
“The group was the most helpful thing as it made me feel less isolated. I had contact with other women and realised for the first time in years that I wasn’t the only one living with this.”
“We need more support for us so we’re not seen as a case to be closed or passed on to someone else, we have needs in our own right, and support should be available for as long as we need it, not time limited.”
“The worse thing was the children didn’t have the option of speaking
to someone. They wouldn’t say anything to a teacher or a police officer... but if there was a support worker there for children they’d have spoken to them.”
“For a long time I felt confused...Was I just as bad as (dad)? How could I love someone who hits my mum?”
Source: Welsh Women’s Aid, 2016.
There is also a need to deal with the effects of coercive control that prevents many victims from getting in touch with any services and some people may not recognise that they are in an abusive relationship. To help address this issue controlling or coercive behaviour has been made a crime under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (CPS, 2015).
West Wales Population Assessment March 2017 VAWDASV