funds – Basildon Women’s Aid

Charity Ball

November 23, 2017 Women Aid Leave a comment

Last September, Friends of Refuge Kids, held the second successful Charity Ball at Orsett Hall, Thurrock, to raise much needed funds for children who are resident in our refuges. These children have often been subjected to physical, mental and sexual abuse and need to leave their home and familiar environment, sometimes in fear for their own safety as well as that of their mother. Sometimes the family arrives with little more than the clothes they are standing up in, leaving all possessions behind.

The events planning team are pleased to announce that in an effort to raise further funds this year we have arranged another Charity Ball on Friday, 16th September 2011 at Orsett Hall, in aid of the families at our refuge. This fabulous evening will be another prestigious event giving the opportunity to support children whose lives have been affected by abuse.

We aim to raise more funds towards activities for children resident in refuge accommodation and we would be pleased to provide more information to anyone who may be able to help. The activities have included therapeutic projects but also fun events and trips as many of the children have never enjoyed a holiday break or day out without stress and upset. Following last year’s Ball, work on improving play facilities at the refuge has commenced and the children have enjoyed many fun activities and seasonal parties, unfortunately we are facing huge cuts to our funding from April 2011 making our fundraising events more important than ever.

We are, once again, offering companies and individuals the opportunity to purchase a ticket or table, sponsor parts of the evening or provide an item for auction or raffle. Whilst any donations will be most welcome, any unusual or exclusive items will be particularly suitable for auctioning. Every sponsor will be acknowledged in all literature relating to the event. An evening programme booklet is provided for everyone attending and will show full details of all those who have been kind enough to assist us with making a difference.

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Training Days

February 14, 2017 Women Aid Leave a comment

At Basildon Women’s Aid we are proud of our reputation for hosting domestic abuse conferences that challenge our delegates and broaden their knowledge of all aspects of gender based violence. Our programme for 2011 is entitled ‘Hidden in plain sight’. The 2011 keynote speakers are at the forefront of national and local domestic abuse issues.

Once again the training sessions are aimed at individuals and organisations and provide comprehensive local, regional and international information and networking. Intended for professionals and service providers from the statutory and voluntary sectors, the 2011 Training Sessions are designed to raise awareness of the dynamics and diversity that have an impact on domestic abuse victims and the community.

All our sessions feature the services that are available to victims (and perpetrators) and how YOU can make a positive difference.…

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Legal Advice

February 26, 2016 Women Aid Leave a comment

Legal Advice

One of the services offered to all those who make contact with Basildon Women’s Aid is access to confidential Legal Advice. For many women entering the Refuge, Legal matters may be the last thing on their mind, but it gives them comfort to know that when they are ready to deal with legal matters, there is an experienced family law solicitor to advise them. Even if you are not a resident at the Refuge, you can meet with one of our solicitors to discuss matters in a relaxed confidential environment.

Why do you need Legal Advice?

It is very important to seek legal advice to protect your position and examine the legal possibilities that are open to you. There is a vast range of advice open to you. Here are some examples:

Injunctions

You may be seeking protection from violence and abuse and you may need some advice about obtaining an injunction through the Court. Injunctions are not magic remedies and they involve hard work on both you and the lawyer’s part. They are the final resort when all attempts at resolving the issue on an amicable basis have failed. Many women come to the refuge for a short period whilst this work is carried out and then return when all the legal proceedings have been completed and they are protected by an order of the Court. There are two main types of injunctions (also called protection orders):

Non-molestation order

A non-molestation Order is an Order of the court which states that your partner cannot use or threaten violence against you, nor can they intimidate, pester or harass you. The Order will be handed to your partner so that they are aware that they cannot be abusive to you during the term of the Order. The Order is only a piece of paper and will not physically protect you from further Domestic violence. If, however, your partner does not comply with the terms of the Order you may be able to apply for their committal to prison for any breach of the Order.

In some cases the Court will attach to the non-molestation Order a Power of Arrest. If a Power of Arrest has been attached and a breach of the non-molestation Order occurs you may telephone the Police to report the incident. The Police will then be obliged to arrest your partner and bring them before a judge when the said judge will decide whether to sentence your partner to a term of imprisonment for the breach.

Occupation order

An Occupation Order states that your partner should leave your home and must not re-enter the property. In some circumstances it is possible to obtain an Order which prevents your partner from coming within 100 metres of your home.

Housing

The local authority will have a duty to help if you are homeless or if you are threatened with homelessness. Threatened with homelessness means that you are likely to become homeless within 28 days. You can still be considered homeless if you are living in a refuge or if you have a home but it is likely that you will experience violence or threats of violence if you return.
You will be considered unintentionally homeless if someone has used or threatened violence against you and you have been forced to leave your home because of domestic violence.

If you are fleeing domestic violence you are entitled to apply to any local authority and the local authority will not be allowed to refer you back if there is a risk of violence to you if you return. It is not necessary to have a local connection in cases of domestic violence.

Housing is a priority for many women and it may be that having considered advice, you do not wish to return to your home and feel that you cannot do so. You may need legal advice regarding homeless applications to the local housing authorities. Our in house solicitor works very closely with the refuge staff and the housing representatives in this matter.

Children

You may need advice about your children, particularly in terms of their ongoing relationship with their other parent. Many women are very fearful that their former partners will apply for Residence or Contact under the Children Act 1989. We have to discuss carefully the issues relating to such matters such as what is in the best interests of the children concerned. Some people have involvement with Social Services, which have to be dealt with, and our in house solicitor will advise you on all aspects of this area of the Law if necessary.

Relationship Breakdown

For some women, they may wish to discuss the breakdown of their relationship or marriage. Once again, complete legal advice is required in this regard on matters of divorce and separation with the emphasis on children and financial matters.

No matter what the problem

No matter what the problem, one of our legal advisors, Cathy Bannister or Tracy King will be able to offer confidential legal advice. They offer free first interviews and will assess your eligibility for Legal Aid if appropriate. In all cases, they will explore with you the various options and take a full note of your circumstances, bearing in mind your priorities at any time.
They are there to give you the best advice and try and find the most child-centred and least confrontational solution. If Court proceedings are the only way out, then they will give you the best representation and advice.

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Housing Issues

April 3, 2015 Women Aid Leave a comment

The Council works closely with Basildon Women’s Aid to ensure that the needs of the women are met. A designated Homeless Officer is the liaison officer between the Council and the refuge.

The designated Homeless Officer ensures that queries raised by the women about their rehousing, are answered. She also attends the refuge on a regular basis so women do not have to leave the safety of the refuge to make a homeless application in order to obtain rehousing.

As part of Basildon’s Domestic Violence Panel, which is a multi agency partnership, the Council has contributed to the successful application for Joint Finance Funding for the Careline Project.

The Council has also begun to look at how everyone within the organisation can assist survivors wherever the interaction takes place. We are currently working with the Police and the refuge to develop a Corporate Policy on Domestic Violence. From this partnership work it is hopeful that a district wide multi agency “Good Practice Guide” can be developed. This has led to the Corporate group being instrumental in making Domestic Violence a ‘stand alone’ item in the district’s new Community Safety Strategy.

The Council will continue to work with the refuge and support the work they do in order to create a safer environment for the survivors of today and for those of the future.…

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