Services for people from black and minority ethnic communities Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service Supporting victims of domestic abuse Free and Confidential Service 0845 602 9035 what is Domestic Abuse? Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can take the form of psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. Home Office Who we are and what we do Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) offers support to anyone over the aged of 16, who has experienced or is experiencing domestic abuse.This includes those going through, or who have experienced, 'honour'-based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and dowry crime. All of our services are free and confidential. 'Honour'-based violence or abuse Honour-based violence (HBV) is a range of abusive behaviours used to control behaviour within families or social groups to protect cultural or religious beliefs and/or perceptions of honour. This includes, but is not limited to: threats to disown you if you behave a certain way dowry crime stopping you seeing your friends stopping you choosing your partner preventing you from working or attending school or college hurting you, or threatening to hurt you, if you act in a way that goes against cultural rules using extended members of the family or community to follow you, or to threaten you forced marriage acid attacks. Forced marriage Forced marriage is when a marriage is arranged against your will or without you knowing about it. This does not include arranged marriages where consent from you has been sought to do so. Dowry crime The United Nation's Division for the Advancement of Women defines dowry-related violence as ‘any act of violence or harassment associated with the giving or receiving of dowry at any time before, during or after the marriage.'Dowry payments can include gifts, money, goods or property. Female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation FGM is the removal, or partial removal, of the external genitalia of young women for non-medical reasons. The NSPCC reported that '23,000 girls under 15 could be at risk of FGM in England and Wales and nearly 60,000 women could be living with the consequences of FGM.' What can we do to help? We provide support to women and men who have experienced domestic abuse. This can take place over the phone, at home or at a venue in the community agreed between the support worker and you, where it is safe to do so. We have support workers who speak different languages and have access to translation services when they're needed.We have staff who are trained to support you around these specific behaviours and support you to live safely free from abuse. Our staff have extensive experience in working with people from BME backgrounds and dealing with these issues. If it is not possible for you to stay in your own home, we will support you to access a 'place of safety'. You will be able to remain in a place of safety until you are able to return to your own home, or you are able to move to a new home. If you do not want to leave your home, but are not feeling safe, we can support you to access the sanctuary scheme. This scheme allows you to apply for safety alterations to be installed in your home. We can support you to increase your safety and put practical measures in place to enable you to live free from abuse. Useful numbers Police 101 or 999 Karma Nirvana 0800 5999247 Women's Aid National Helpline 0808 2000 247 Gloucestershire Children's Services Helpdesk (if you feel a child is at risk of harm) 01452 426565 GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers) 01452 550528 Supporting victims of domestic abuse Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Service Free and confidential service 0845 602 9035 support@gdass.org.uk facebook.com/GDASSglos twitter.com/GDASS_ Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) is delivered by GreenSquare Group and Splitz Support Service. Both organisations are experienced in delivering domestic abuse services in the region.