Domestic violence directory

• About domestic abuse
• About the directory
• Refuge, emergency accommodation, housing and related services
• Counselling, support and advice services
• Police, legal advice/criminal justice
• Health services
• Services for men and perpetrators of domestic abuse
• National services

About domestic abuse

This directory has been produced with the support of South Tyneside Domestic Violence Forum. The Forum was set up in 1994 and brings together a wide range of experience from local agencies that provide services for those affected by domestic abuse.

Each member of the Forum is committed to improving domestic abuse services, raising awareness of the issue and strengthening the protection, justice and support available for victims, their children and perpetrators. The Forum is also dedicated to the prevention of and early intervention into abusive relationships.

Domestic abuse crosses all boundaries, including age, gender, ethnicity, religion and class and is described by South Tyneside Domestic Violence Forum as:

"Any use of, or threat of, physical, emotional, verbal, economic, and/or sexual abuse, or any other behaviour that results in an individual living in fear and/or feeling abused through the use of power and control by an individual against another, with who they have, or have had, an intimate (though not necessarily sexual) relationship with. Where these behaviours are present, there is the increased possibility that children, pets and/or other family members are also experiencing violence."

Families experiencing domestic abuse have a wide range of needs, which can change over time.

These can range from crisis support and protection, to re-housing and help to rebuild their lives. Some of these needs can be met by statutory organisations or specialist domestic violence help services.

All support services have a role to play in providing an effective network of help or assistance for families. Knowing what services are available is the key to being able to use them.

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About the directory

This directory can be used by women and men who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse.
It may also be useful for professional workers who give advice and support to victims of domestic abuse.

The services in this directory have been grouped into six sections. The majority of them are based in South Tyneside and surrounding areas and are listed alphabetically.  A selection of national services have also been included.

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Refuge, emergency accommodation, housing and related services

Places for People in Partnership with South Tyneside Women's Refuge

Offers help and support, as well as providing safe, temporary and emergency accommodation to women with or without children suffering from domestic abuse.

Opening hours: 24 hours

Phone: 0191 454 8257

Other local refuges: Sunderland 0191 514 1972, Washington 0191 415 1506, Gateshead 0191 477 9309, Newcastle 0191 265 2148, North Shields 0191 251 3305, Durham 0191 386 5951, Northumberland 0167 082 0199

Community Furniture Store

Offers low cost furniture sales to people in need.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5pm

Phone: 0191 549 4343 or visit: www.suncfs.org.uk

Homelessness Prevention Service - Housing Options (South Tyneside Council)

This service provides help and advice to those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or are unable to remain in their current home.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am - 5pm. Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm

Phone: 0300 123 6633

Jigsaw - South Tyneside Floating Support

Offers floating support for 28 young people, aged 16 - 25, with high support needs, either in their tenancies or in preparation for their tenancy allocation. Through a jointly agreed support package, project workers enable young people to achieve their goals and develop independent living skills until support is no longer needed. Support can be provided for up to two years.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, flexible to the needs of clients.

Phone: 0191 496 9715, Fax: 0191 456 4387 or visit: www.depauluk.org/jigsaw

Sanctuary Scheme

If the fear of domestic abuse is making you think about moving, the Sanctuary Scheme could make it possible for you to stay living safely in your own home, if the perpetrator no longer lives there. The scheme is free and removes the fear of living at home by installing extra security to the property.

The Sanctuary Scheme can be accessed by contacting the following organisations:

Homelessness Prevention Team

Phone: 0300 123 6633

Domestic Violence Co-ordinator

Phone: 0191 424 7954

Places for People in Partnership with South Tyneside Women's Aid (Women's Refuge)

Phone: (0191) 454 8257

Northumbria Police Public Protection Unit

Phone: 03456 043 043

S&S Removal

Provides low cost furniture removals for victims of domestic abuse.

Opening hours: 24 hours

Phone: (0191) 427 0470 (day) or (0191) 482 3967 (night) or visit: www.sandsremovals.co.uk

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Counselling, support and advice services

Apna Ghar (ethnic support group)

Offers advice and support to those in ethnic minorities.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 9.15am to 4.15pm, Friday/Saturday/Sunday - closed

Phone: 0191 456 4147

Barnardos Orchard Mosaic Project

Provides support to children living with domestic violence.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Phone: 0191 212 0237 or visit Barnado's

Barnardos Street level Family Services

Offers support to people over 19 years old who are experiencing problematic substance use. Support is also available for family members.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm

Phone: 0191 455 3027

Boldon Lane Neighbourhood Advice Centre

Provides advice on all issues of welfare rights.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 4pm

Phone: 0191 454 3924

Children's Services

Provides help with questions and concerns about child abuse.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 5pm, Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Phone: 0191 424 5010

Children and Families Education Support Service

This service works with children, parents/ carers, schools and other agencies to promote regular school attendance, deal with absenteeism and help children and young people at risk of exclusion.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 7.30am - 5pm

Phone: 0191 424 9936

Citizen's Advice Bureau

Helps people resolve their legal, money and other related problems by providing free information and advice. Bilingual staff are available at the South Shields office.

Opening hours:
South Shields office: Monday, 10am to 1pm and 1.30 to 4pm, Tuesday 1.30 to 4pm, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 1pm.

Jarrow office: Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 1pm

Phone: 0191 455 7958 or visit Adviceguide

Family Support Service

Provides counselling and therapy to both victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse who have a learning disability.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 7.30pm

Phone: 0191 424 4737

Services for Young People

Confidential advice and support service for all 13-19 year olds (and up to age 25 for young people with special needs).

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm

Phone: 0191 424 7400   or visit Connexions Tyne & Wear

Escape Intervention Services Ltd

This is a confidential service for young people aged 11-18 years, their parents and/or carers, and professionals working with families.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 6pm

Call: 0191 427 6353 / 07599 307 481 or visit Escape Intervention

Hebburn Neighbourhood Advice Centre

Provides advice on welfare rights.

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 2pm - 4pm, Tuesday and Friday: 10am - 12 noon

Phone: 0191 483 9806

Hindu Nari Sangh (Hindu women's association)

Social and cultural group who provide women and children, from all communities living in South Tyneside, with advice and support.

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm

Phone: 0191 455 8146

Impact Family Services

Provides family mediation, child contact centres and supports children and young people who are experiencing bullying. Impact also provides individual and group work support to parents experiencing seperation, divorce and child contact issues.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm

Phone: (0191) 567 8282 or visit Impact Family Services

Matrix

The Matrix is a 'multi-agency' drug and alcohol service working with young people under 18 and families and carers whose lives have been affected by substance use. Matrix staff are trained to deal with issues affecting young people and offer a confidential service in a friendly surrounding.

Opening hours:Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9am - 5pm, Wednesday: 9am - 6pm, Friday: 9am - 4.30pm

Phone: 0800 328 1898 (free, may be charged from mobiles) or office: 0191 497 5637

Email: enquiries@ypmatrix.org

Visit: www.ypmatrix.org

North East Council on Addictions (NECA)

Provides counselling for substance misusers and their families.

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9am - 4.30pm, Wednesday: 9.30am - 8pm, Friday: 8.30am - 4pm, Saturday: 9.30am - 5pm.

Call: 0191 456 9999 or visit Neca

Options

Provides:

• Confidential and non-judgemental advice to women over 18, on domestic abuse issues in a safe place
• Contact with and referral to other relevant organisations
• Weekly support groups giving opportunities to meet survivors of domestic abuse and make new friends

Bilingual staff and interpreters are also available.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 4pm

Phone: 0191 456 7577

Panah (black women's refuge and outreach service)

Offers temporary refuge accommodation, practical and emotional support and outreach services.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm

Phone: 0191 284 6998

Places for People - South Tyneside Domestic Abuse Outreach Service

Provides support and advice to people at risk of domestic abuse.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm

Phone: 0797 107 6291

REACH (Rape, Examination, Advice and Help)

Offers help and support to victims of rape.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 9am - 5pm, Friday: 9am to 4pm

Phone: 0191 221 9222 or visit REACH

Relate

Provides a counselling service for people experiencing problems in adult relationships.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday: 9am - 8.45pm, Friday: 9am - 5pm

Phone: 0191 232 9109 or visit Relate Northumberland and Tyneside

South Tyneside IDVA Service (Independent Domestic Violence Advisers)

Provides crisis intervention, support advice and information to high risk victims of domestic abuse to both male and female, same sex relationships, whether you are still in a relationship or are seperated from your partner.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 4pm

Phone: 0191 456 7577 or mobile: 0754 520 8670 / 0754 520 8671

Email: idva@southtynesidecvs.org.uk

Safeguarding Adults Unit

This service provides advice to anyone who has concerns for someone (aged 18 or over) who may be suffering domestic abuse.

Opening hours:Monday to Thursday: 8.30am - 5pm, Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Phone: 0845 130 4959 / 0191 456 2093 (out of hours)

Samaritans

Provides emotional support for people experiencing distress and despair.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday: 9am - 9pm (face to face) (24hr telephone)

Phone: 0191 232 7272 / 08457 90 90 90 or visit Tyneside Samaritans

Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre

Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre aims to:

• Provide information, support and counselling for women aged 16 and over who have experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse, either in adulthood or childhood.
• Raise awareness about sexual violence and provide training, education and outreach work.
• Contribute to policy initiatives aimed at improving service provision for women survivors.
• Support and help develop initiatives aimed at preventing/detecting child sexual abuse and adult rape/sexual assault.

Services offered:

• Specialist one to one counselling
• Helpline
• Specialist training
• Specialist information to individuals and organisations
• Volunteering opportunities
• Support scheme
• Grace - Northumberland Sexual Violence Project

Opening hours: Helpline - 0191 232 9858, Freephone - 0800 035 2794, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 6pm - 8.30pm. Admin - 0191 222 0272 (for information and referrals).

Visit: Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre

Welfare Rights

This service offers free advice and support with the following types of queries:

• Benefit entitlements
• Employment rights
• Debt and money problems
• Housing issues
• Child support

Opening hours: Monday - Thursday: 9am - 4.30pm, Friday: 9am - 4pm

Phone: 0191) 424 6040

Witness Service

Helps witnesses, victims, and their families and friends before, during and after a trial. It is run by Victim Support, the national charity for victims and witnesses of crime.

Phone: 0191 455 6873

Gateshead and South Tyneside Victim Support

• Confidential help and support to victims, their friends and families and witnesses of domestic abuse/other crimes
• Information on Police court procedures, criminal justice system and support while attending court
• Help with criminal injuries compensation and insurance claims
• Contact with and referral to other relevant organisations

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Phone: 0191 477 8395 or visit Victim Support

Women's Health in South Tyneside

Experienced counsellors and therapists provide confidential, individual and group support in a safe, women only environment.

Opening hours:Monday to Friday: 9.30am - 4.30pm

Phone: 0191 454 6959 or visit Women's Health in South Tyneside

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Police, legal advice/criminal justice

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Health services

South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

Harton Lane, South Shields, NE34 OPL

Opening hours: 24 hours

Phone:(0191) 404 1000 or visit: South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

NHS Direct

This service provides an advice line for all health matters.

Opening hours:24 hours

Phone:0845 4647 or visit NHS Direct

Safeguarding Nurse Team (Community Health Services)

Provide advice, support and supervision to health staff on all matters relating to safeguarding. Community health staff will work together with other professionals to safeguard the victims of domestic abuse and their child/children as appropriate.

Phone: 0191 283 1346 / 1470 / 1375 or Fax: 0191 283 1376

Email: safeguarding.sotw@nhs.net

Mental Health Matters

Provides an advocacy service for anyone experiencing mental health issues. A supported accommodation service is also available with 11 flats within South Tyneside. Mental health matters is available for both men and women who are 18 years and over.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm

Phone: Advocacy service - 0191 493 6914, Supported housing service - 0191 493 6913

Visit: Mental Health Matters

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Services for men and perpetrators of domestic abuse

Offers information and advice to those who are violent and abusive to their partners.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm

Call: 0808 802 4040 or visit Respect Phoneline

The Mankind Initiative

Provides help and support for male victims of domestic abuse.

Opening hours:Monday to Friday: 10am - 4pm and 7pm - 9pm

Call:01823 334 244 or visit Mankind

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National services

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• Domestic violence
• People & care