The Relationships Centre

Women's Centre works towards fresh starts for domestic violence victims

21st Aug 2009

Amongst its many other functions, Halton Women's Centre is currently the base of the Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) for Halton, who provides support to people affected by violence within their homes.

The location of the Halton IDVA within the Women's Centre presents a unique position within the IDVA field, as the worker is able to provide a secure and reassuring base in which to meet with service users, and a place to refer clients on to once IDVA support has ended. The Women's Centre is available to support service users in beginning to rebuild their lives once the IDVA has helped them to achieve security for themselves and their families.

The current IDVA for Halton, Lindsay Jolly, commented that "Over the past few years there has been a clear pattern of re-referrals for many IDVA clients. Clients are supported in leaving one violent relationship, but after this they often fall back into unhealthy relationships again. By referring clients on to the Women's Centre we hope to support them in improving their self esteem and wellbeing so that the relationships they form in the future are healthy and secure."

The Relationships Centre, as well as managing Halton Women's Centre, also manages IDVA workers in Warrington and St Helens. The workers across this network liaise regularly to share best practice and to provide optimum support for service users moving from one area to another. All service users relocating to the Halton area are offered the chance to access the Women's Centre for support in making a new start and achieving a better quality of life.

One of the most popular Women's Centre services accessed by people who have experienced domestic violence is the Positive You course, which runs for eight weeks and centres around confidence building, communication and healthy relationships. The course has met with fantastic feedback from participants, and is currently run four times a year to meet the demand of numbers of people wanting to enrol. The next course is due to start in September 2009, and anyone interested in learning more is welcome to contact the Women's Centre for further information.

Witness Care partnership

17th Aug 2009

The IDVA and domestic violence Co ordinator were recently invited to attend a meeting with Witness Care in Liverpool with a view to highlight what we do in St Helens as a service for victims and also to emphasise the good work completed by their staff in supporting our victims through the court system.

Witness Care offer a phone service to its victims in order to keep victims up to date with any case progression as does the IDVA service.  The objective of the meeting was to establish a common ground in helping victims in anyway to feel comfortable with the court system and more importantly when they are required to attend.  As the IDVA's have direct contact and sometimes face - to - face contact with victims the two services are working closely together to empower victims in court.  This can be done in a number of ways; we can liaise with both Witness Care and the court itself to arrange Pre-Trial visits for victims to have a look around court rooms to ease any anxiety.  Further to this arrangements can be made for special measures to be put in place for the day of the trial.

Attending court for victims presents a number of frightening consequences and we are working in conjunction with Witness Care in an attempt to relieve these fears.  Our aim is to reduce anxiety and fears in anyway; therefore, working in closer partnership with agencies somewhat fulfills this aspect for victims.

Women's Centre used as top Primary Care resource

10th Aug 2009

Halton Women's Centre has recently featured in the Primary Care Trust's bulletin of key services in the Halton area.

The Women's Centre is funded by Halton Borough Council and Halton PCT, and in its first sixteen months funders have been wowed by the steady increase in footfall figures, and the way that the service is constantly developing and expanding to provide ever-improving support to families across the borough.

The August Primary Care Bulletin declares that the Centre "...continues to go from strength to strength in providing help and support to the women of Halton."

It goes on to add: "It is a fantastic example of partnership working between the PCT, Halton Borough Council and the Relationships Centre, a voluntary sector organisation." The Women's Centre was recently used as an example of best practice during Halton Borough Council inspections.

Agencies that the Women's Centre currently works in partnership with include ARCH Initiatives, Halton PCT, Halton People into Jobs, RASASC, the YMCA, Halton Domestic Abuse Service, the Health Trainers, and Halton Voluntary Action. The Centre is also supported by ten volunteers who attend to deliver services every week, and staff continue to enlist the invaluable support of volunteers on an ongoing basis in order to maintain the high quality of services provided for clients.

St Helens District Women's Aid and the IDVA service

3rd Aug 2009

The St Helens IDVA service and St Helens District Women's Aid have recently began discussions on improving partnership working between the two organisations to ensure services to victims of Domestic Violence receive a co-ordinated service across St Helens.

With the appointment of the new a Director of Domestic Violence Services, Sharon Mackenzie, we will increase partnership efforts to tackle domestic violence by ensuring a combined effort in sending out the message that domestic violence is not and will not be tolerated.  There will be an exciting new introduction of programmes for victims and also a close working partnership between the two services.  Sharon Mackenzie said, "I firmly believe in the fundamental right of individuals to live their life free from violence and abuse.  This is an exciting but challenging time for organisations to work in partnership to deliver quality, timely and relevant services that make a difference to the lives of individuals suffering or at risk from Domestic Violence. The impact of service delivery to women and children can be enhanced by joint working".

Staff at Women's Aid have received training from Wendy Wright (DV Co-ordinator, St Helens Council) and Heather Bromilow (IDVA) in the new MERIT risk assessment tool to offer a more holistic and consistent service to victims.  We are also looking forward to developing our knowledge about the work of Women's Aid to offer a more preventative service to users.

St Helens District Women's Aid provides safe emergency refuge accommodation for women and children experiencing or at risk of Domestic Violence. Support is also provided from Women's Aid via a 24 hour domestic violence help-line providing information, help and support to anyone experiencing or at risk from Domestic Violence. The telephone number for this service is 01925 220541.