FAQ
Of course, our advisors are here to provide information on your options and rights. If you are not sure about what you would like to do next, our advisors can give you the information you need to make informed choices. It is always up to you ultimately whether you would like to take action now or later.
Yes. Domestic violence can be experienced by an intimate partner such a partner or boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife but it can also be experienced by other close relatives such as parents/children/siblings/extended family. This might be the case particularly with harmful traditional practices such as forced marriage, so called “honour-based” violence or female genital mutilation. If you are experiencing any form of VAWG please do get in touch, our advisors are here to assist.
Domestic violence is an umbrella term that encompasses a number of forms of abuse, these include: physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, cyber and financial abuse as well as coercive In the eyes of the law, all of these as well as other forms of VAWG are unacceptable and can be reported. At IMECE no abuse is too small, our VAWG service aims to support women experiencing all forms of VAWG including harmful practices.
As a BAMER specialist service we recognise that a language barrier can hinder a lot of women’s journey into reaching out for support. Our VAWG advisors are able to provide Turkish language specific support but also able to support other BAMER women who might be experiencing difficulties due to language barriers via the assistance of interpreters.
Please also keep in mind that in cases of emergency if you require assistance from police or other services, do call 999 and request for an interpreter to be connected in your preferred language.
Yes, we do. Please call us on 020 7354 1359.
This depends on your circumstances. For more information, please call us on 020 7354 1359.
Yes you can. If you are fleeing domestic violence you are allowed to do that.
Yes you can. We can use the child maintenance service to arrange it and you don't even have to contact the estranged husband as the service does it for you. It doesn't affect your benefits and you don't pay tax on them.
You can't get benefits on spouse visa, but if you are fleeing domestic violence, we can refer you to a solicitor to apply to Destitute Domestic Violence Concession visa which gives entitles you to public funds for 3 month, which then gives you time to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.
It can be quite difficult to understand what support services are open to you if you have “no recourse to public funds” attached to your visa status in the UK. Being NRPF, restricts individuals from receiving welfare or benefits as well as not being eligible for housing support from a local authority. At IMECE, we support all BAMER women fleeing abuse including those who might be NRPF or have insecure immigration statuses. Our specialist advisors will hopefully be able to provide you with advice and information as well as link you in with key services that can help support you.
Our VAWG advisors are here to provide information, advice and support you through case working. We will work with you to ensure you understand what each of your options might be and how they may possibly impact you, so you are able to make informed choices. IMECE’s advisors are here to empower, advocate for and voice the wishes of the women they support.
Children’s social services are a safeguarding board within each local authority. Unless a victim of abuse or neglect by yourself, children’s social services aim to support women/mothers who are fleeing domestic violence. Children’s social services will work with survivors/mothers to ensure their needs are met and there is safety planning upon exiting the relationship. Social services can also support families experiencing D.V. who are choosing to continue in their relationships.
Unfortunately, this is often used as a means of threat and manipulation used by perpetrators over many survivors and victims who might have an insecure immigration status in the UK. Both the family courts and children’s services may assess the suitability of parenting/care of children in certain cases while considering a decision or outcome. Any assessment on the suitability of a parent should not penalise any victims of abuse on the grounds of her immigration status.
In some cases, where the police may not have substantial evidence to take a perpetrator of abuse to court you might be advised by the police to seek civil remedies. This will often be in the form of an injunction or orders against a perpetrator. Injunctions or orders can be obtained through the civil courts and they will outline a number of restrictions and rules that perpetrator will have to follow. There is a variety of injunctions that can be obtained dependent on the abuse and evidence that can be submitted to the courts. Our specialist advisors can talk you through which injunctions might be available to you and signpost you to solicitors who can assist you further.
Would this mean I am an unfit mother in the eyes of social services/courts?Expand
Struggling with mental health can be a very difficult and effect our daily lives. If you are going through domestic violence and living with depression it can be a bigger struggle to cope. Although a difficult aspect of our lives to manage at times, please know that you are not alone; every year 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind in England.
No service should practice discrimination or prejudice against any individual who is struggling with mental health. If you are struggling with mental health and would like to get more information on our counselling services available at IMECE please click here where you can find out more information on how to make a self-referral.
We offer 15 sessions of counselling. Each session is 50 minutes long. Due to Covid19 restrictions, we are currently doing our sessions online. We offer sessions via voice or video call depending on your preference. Depression can be beaten. There are many approaches and techniques that can be used. We help you find the ones that fit best to your personality and circumstances.