Lock changes are free for Staying Put service users. Please note that if we arrange an appointment and you fail to be at home when the locksmith arrives then you will be required to pay for the call out charge. Appointments will be arranged with you, at a time that is convenient for yourself.

Social services will do what is best for the children. If you are taking care of the children and keeping them safe, social services will not put you children in alternative care. If you do not have any money, this does not mean that your children will be taken away form you as you can apply for relevant benefits. If you have no leave to remain in UK, social services as can asses your situation and may provide you funding.

There are not many refuges that will allow dogs/cats to be taken in; however you can ring the Dogs Trust which may be able to take your dog. Their number is 0800 083 4322. You can also ask them advice on other animals.

We can sign post you to other agencies that we work in partnership with. They will be able to support you with searching for houses.

We can meet you at the house if we are installing an alarm. If you would like to meet and discuss your situation with us in person, can arrange to do this away from the house, in a public place such as a café or any other place most convenient to yourself. We understand and will respect your privacy and will therefore arrange a place which you find comfortable and discreet enough.

If the perpetrator is living with you or occasionally comes over to stay Staying Put is unable to install a panic alarm. The purposes of our alarms are to keep you safe from the person who has been abusing you, once you have separated from him/her.

To activate the alarm, you simply have to press a button. This will inform the alarm company that you require the police and the police will then be sent to your house. You do not have to speak to anyone or provide any details of your address; this will already be stored onto a system when staff installs the alarm at your property.

The panic alarm unit is connected to your telephone line which should be able to make outgoing calls. It can be activated from the main unit by pressing the red button or by pressing the button on the pendant which can be used in the entire house and in the garden. The panic alarm is initially installed for approximately 4-6 weeks. At the time of installation Staying Put staff will discuss the necessary guidelines.

Yes we can still help and support you. Domestic violence can be used to gain power and to control another person. Domestic violence can be physical which includes all forms of aggressive or unwanted physical contact and sexual violence. Domestic violence also includes non- physical abuse such as verbal, social racist, psychological or emotional abuse, threats, neglect, harassment and financial abuse.

All these other forms of domestic violence also have harmful and lasting effects on the victim. Staying Put takes them all very seriously.

Staying Put staff will usually arrange to meet you at the solicitors or courts or somewhere nearby. If you are experiencing financial problems, we can arrange to pick you from a safe place, and accompany to the solicitors or the courts.

No. Staying Put services are free and confidential. We support women Bradford district wide regardless of their immigration status.

Yes we do. If you have accessed our service and we have supported you in any way, we can write support letters for you. This can be housing support letters, letters to support your immigration application, support letters for your children's'/dependants' schools and other letters which you may require depending on your situation.

You may have to go to court in order to obtain any relevant court orders. For example Non-Molestation, Prohibited Steps or Occupation order/s. However, you can be fully supported by our Legal Assistance Team throughout the course of your court proceedings and someone from our organisation will accompany you to court, if that is the support you are seeking from us.

For some people the process of court proceedings or giving evidence in court can be particularly daunting or intimidating. These people (described as Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses), may be allowed to use "Special Measures" to help them give evidence without feeling intimidated. The Special Measures that may be available are:

• Giving evidence through a T.V Link
• Video Recorded evidence
• Removal of wigs and gowns
• Evidence given in private
• Use of communication aids
• Examination or cross-examination through an intermediary. An intermediary is someone (appointed by court) who can help a vulnerable witness understands questions that they are being asked and vice versa.

If you need this support during the course of your proceedings, our Legal Assistance Team will be more than happy to request it for your convenience.

All the information you give us is confidential. We would not discuss this or even confirm we are working with you to another agency without your prior consent. However, this will be overridden if:

1. There is a safeguarding children issue or
2. There is a need to protect the vital interests of the woman (e.g. there is a life of death situation.
3. Staying Put is required by law to do so
4. Staying Put is assisting in the prevention or detection of a crime.

Legal aid is available to anyone suffering domestic abuse. However, depending on your income a monthly contribution may be needed for the duration of the case. This can be between one month and many months depending on the case.

For women in receipt of income support and Job seekers allowance legal aid is free. Proof of income will be required to obtain the legal aid.

Not necessarily because different orders to different things. Essentially a Non Molestation Order would not stop contact unless it was stated in the order. However, it would stop the perpetrator from threatening or using violence against you, or intimidating, harassing or pestering you, and in certain circumstances this may include an exclusion zone around the property.

If you still want the perpetrator to see the children this can be arranged privately, or in the courts in front of a judge.

If you do not want the perpetrator to have contact with the children you would need to apply for other orders under the Children's Act 1989 and let the courts decide what contact there should be if any.

Unfortunately we are unable to do this. However, the police would attend the property with you whilst you collect things in order to avoid a breach of the peace. They will not help you pack or move things and will not get involved in discussions about who owns what.

Where there is domestic abuse we can support you to make an application to court for an occupation order. This order would say who should live at the property. There will usually be a few days before it is granted as the court wish to give the perpetrator time before asking him to leave, they also give him the opportunity to seek legal advice and put his case before the courts.

At the time of applying for an occupation order you can apply for a Non Molestation Order (injunction). This can be granted immediately and once served can protect you against any actual or threats of violence or intimidation until you attend court regarding the occupation order.

You should call the police straight away if you are afraid. Or press the panic alarm if you have one. If there is a Non Molestation Order in place the police should arrest him for a breach of this. You should also inform your solicitor.

In certain circumstances to perpetrator may have parental responsibility? If they don’t you must inform the police immediately and they will find and return the child/children. It is possible also to apply to the courts to have a child returned.

If the perpetrator does have parental responsibility then the police may not return the child/children and you may have to see a solicitor and go to court for a court order. Then you should apply for a Prohibited Steps Order and in the longer term a Residency Order to stop the child/children being taken out of your care and control.

If there are threats to take the children or you have a genuine fear this may happen you can also apply for the above orders. You should seek legal advice immediately.

An IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate)

Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy service works from the point of crisis with survivors of domestic abuse. Their work is typically short to medium term and they work within a multi-agency setting to manage the risk that clients face. All the work of IDVA services should reflect principles of safety, risk, diversity, and dynamics of domestic abuse, independence, accountability to stakeholders, co-ordination and respect.

The aim of the MARAC is to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of domestic abuse victims, both adults and their children. In a MARAC agencies will meet to discuss the highest risk victims. Information about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure safety, and the provisions available are shared and used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies.

It is referred to as a system because, although it has the court processes at its heart, it also refers to early identification of DV incidents particularly policing, health and social care interventions, through to specialised and generic victim support. In essence, the specialist court programme is a co-ordinated community response to DV which combines both criminal justice and non-criminal justice interventions and forms a multi-agency response that creates greater victim safety and brings perpetrators to account.