Emotional & Practical Support
For any enquiries, or for initial advice and support, call us on: 0800 111 4998 or email at info@coventryhaven.co.uk
Please see information about staying safe here; this includes BSL also: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/covid-19-coronavirus-safety-and-support-resources/
Face-to-Face Support
We offer emotional support and a listening, non-judgmental ear. You can make an appointment to come and see us even if you are still being subjected to abuse in your relationship. You do not have to leave or break up with your partner to get our help.
When you call, we will do our best to see you as quickly as possible. A specialist support worker will be allocated to you, and during the first support session she will go through a Risk Assessment with you. This is a short questionnaire which will help us to identify the best ways to help you. If you are staying in your own home, the support worker will also go through a safety plan with you.
During your support sessions, your support worker will listen to you and help you in a variety of ways. For example, she might act as your advocate, helping you to sort difficult matters out regarding your landlord, debt, rent or benefits. Or she might help you with a variety of issues caused by domestic abuse. You may not want to leave the relationship, or be dealing with historic abuse issues; we are able to listen and support you.
We can also offer an IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate) service, who will support you through any civil or criminal process, and help you with court papers, appearances and non-molestation/restraining orders.
We work closely with other agencies, and if we do not have the skills to help you, we will signpost you or refer you to an appropriate agency or support you with introductions; you will not have to go along if you don't want to. (For other relevant agencies, see our Useful Links page).
Your support worker can also refer you to our counselling service, or for legal advice (we offer a free legal fast track to legal advice via our Coventry Women’s Partnership project) please call 08001114998 to make an appointment), or email info@coventryhaven.co.uk
Counselling
Free Counselling Service
Our volunteer counsellors are fully qualified and specialise in domestic abuse and violence against women and children, counselling. In addition, they have attended Coventry Haven Women’s Aid domestic abuse training, and have passed a thorough selection process. If you think that you might need counselling to help you come to terms with your experience of domestic abuse, your support worker can refer you to our counsellors.
There may be a waiting period, but this should not be more than a few weeks. An initial counselling assessment is conducted with you and then you are matched with a counsellor, who will offer an initial course of six sessions. At the end of the six sessions, your counsellor will carry out a review with you, to see if you need more sessions.
Counselling can be difficult at first but many of our service users have said that it has helped them move forward and build on their confidence and self belief. You should not have to live in fear of the person you love.