Personal stories
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All of the women below received one to one support from the Independent Domestic Violence Advocate at Westminster Children’s Services. They have also completed The Freedom Programme, an 11 week group programme for women who have experienced or still are experiencing domestic abuse.
I honestly don’t think I’d still be alive. I was in pretty bad shape when I left my former partner. I couldn’t even make a decision as to what sandwich to order for lunch and was too scared of going out on my own. Since then, I have found my sense of self again, and in the darkness, found this glimmer of hope, telling me I was strong enough to get through this. I have better understanding as to how I found myself in this situation in the first place and will never ignore my inner voice again. For me, what would have been useful if I were still with him, would be to have access to the support services I have now but didn’t know existed then.
I was actually still with my abusive ex-partner when lockdown started and for about 2 months of it. But during that time, I started doing the Online Freedom Programme and it was like a lightbulb being switched on! I threw him out and got an injunction to keep him away, from the National Centre for Domestic Violence. With help and support I have freed myself and my children.
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I am still with my abuser. Lockdown has been so hard for me and my children have witnessed much more of the abuse than they normally would have. I want other women to know that Social Services are so helpful. I don’t think I would have got through this lockdown if it weren’t for my children’s social worker. She has kept in contact with me and the children and my husband and her presence, albeit over the phone or by video call, has meant that my husband is wary of being very abusive.
Because I left my abusive ex-partner, I was one of the lucky ones who could wake up in lockdown smiling instead of being woken up and having to pretend to smile! Housing were so brilliant with me. They moved me somewhere safe where he can’t hurt us anymore.
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