Refuge Asian Services

Refuge's Asian Services team runs a specialist South Asian women's project offering a bi-lingual service. The refuge provides safe temporary accommodation for South Asian women and children.

South Asian women experiencing domestic violence have specific needs. Community and family expectations, religious and cultural pressures can mean they face particular challenges. It can be difficult to seek appropriate support, especially if you don't speak English.

Who can come to the refuge?

Any South Asian woman, or woman who defines herself as South Asian, who is escaping domestic violence - from a partner, or another member of her family such as a brother, sister, father, uncle or mother-in-law - can come to the refuge. The violence or abuse can be from a partner or another member of her family, perhaps her brother, sister, father, uncle or mother-in-law.

Much of Refuge's work supports women who are fleeing a range of issues such as forced marriage, insecure immigration status, issues of disownment by family and communities relating to systems of honour and izzat.

Culturally specific service provision

Refuge workers supporting Refuge's Asian Services understand the importance of confidentiality and the issues that close family networks, family members and extended family member's involvement can cause a woman.

Many of the women do not speak English as a first language and this may have contributed to their isolation. Workers supporting the project speak a range of languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, Mirpuri, Hindi and English.
(The service aims to empower women to make their own choices).

Staff can provide emotional and practical support in the following areas:

• Housing applications/transfers.
• Settling into a new home.
• Safety planning.
• Claiming benefits and budgeting.
• Training and employment.
• Legal advice/information.
• Access to healthcare.
• Risk assessment.
• Immigration issues - support for women with insecure immigration status.
• Culturally appropriate emotional support - one-to-one or in a group.
  
  

What else do Refuge's Asian Services provide?

The South Asian women's group meets monthly, bringing together South Asian women from within the community. The group provides a great opportunity for South Asian women to meet, enjoy each other's company and share experiences.

Women who live locally to the project can attend one of Refuge's advice surgeries. These culturally specific drop-in sessions operate on a first come first served basis.

How can I access Refuge's Asian Services?

The 24-hour National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline will help you find a space in a specialist refuge. The police, social services and other agencies can also put you in touch with us. Or call the team direct on 01332 200027 or after 5pm on 0772 524 5383.