COMMUNITY ADVICE
& SUPPORT
Our Community Support provides free confidential advice to South Asian women and children who have experienced domestic abuse.
Community advice and support
Kiran’s community support provides free confidential advice and support to South Asian women and children who have been subjected to domestic abuse. Our support workers fluently speak many South Asian languages.
Key features of our community advice and support service:
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providing one to one culturally sensitive emotional support;
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allowing and encouraging women to have their voices heard;
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ensuring women have safe accommodation and are informed about their housing options;
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advising on appropriate safety and support planning to ensure women make informed choices so that they either remain or leave an abusive relationship safely;
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supporting women to apply and manage their welfare benefits and having a 100% success rate in overturning wrongful decisions through appeals; and
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planning and encouraging women to arrange coffee mornings and events to help them learn new skills and build on their social and mental wellbeing.
Advocacy & advice:
Through advocacy and advice we will help women to feel empowered. This is done by providing women with details of the options available to them enabling them to make informed decisions.
Wider community
We offer support to residents in East London.
Women of all ages can access our outreach service via:
email: [email protected]
phone: 0208 558 1986
Our Drop-in Advice Surgeries
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KIRAN HELPLINE -
CALL US NOW ON 020 8558 1986
Phone lines are open Monday - Friday : 9.30 am - 4.30 pm
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL THE POLICE ON 999
How we've helped
- Parminder -
“My husband never slapped, bruised or raised his hand at me. Therefore, why would I leave him? I was brought up to believe that divorce was wrong and to never discuss what happens behind closed doors to anyone outside of our household.
My husband had severe mental health difficulties and my in-laws said it was my duty as a wife to care for him regardless of his behaviour towards me. Added to this, my son had behavioural difficulties and my daughter had developmental delay. My husband constantly blamed me and said I was a bad mother and deserved to be sworn at and treated as a slave.
I attended a coffee morning by Kiran and they helped me to understand what emotional and verbal abuse consisted of. I soon realized that this was the abuse I had been suffering from for a long time. However, my community never taught me that this was wrong and unacceptable. Kiran helped me to understand the various forms of abuse and how such abuse was not to be tolerated. I could finally express my emotions and allow my truth to unravel. I was provided with a safe haven for myself and my children.
Before contacting Kiran, I would discipline my children by smacking them as this was what I was taught as being the right form of punishment. Kiran referred me to parenting classes, helped me to work positively with social services and to learn how to best support my children. They worked with me to understand my son had attention deficit hyperactive disorder and my daughter had learning difficulties. I had no idea before. Kiran helped me to obtain a statement of special needs to help both of my children.
I was given an unfurnished property in bad condition. Through re-settlement support, my support worker overturned the council's decision and I was offered a permanent council property and awarded a grant to help start a new life for my family.
I have now restarted my life as a confident and independent woman. I am ready to tackle and build a positive future. This process has allowed me to find my voice and to live a life free from abuse.”
- Testimonials -
“I was given support through this traumatic time in my life, knowing I had someone to call when I needed them - made this whole experience better for me”
“I am so thankful to Kiran Support Services for understanding my cultural background and empowering me to have my voice heard and understanding all forms of abuse is wrong”