News

Do you need someone to talk to?
Access free, confidential helplines and webchat services in Birmingham, the West Midlands and UK wide.

If you’re worried about your partner seeing what you have looked at online, use ‘private browsing mode’ on your phone or device, which won’t save your search history. You can find more information about keeping safe online here.

Most websites offering support for domestic abuse have an ‘exit page’ button that will close the webpage quickly.

Birmingham & the West Midlands

Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid
Confidential helpline: 7 days a week, 9.15am to 5.15pm 0808 800 0028
Webchat: Mon-Fri 10am – 4pm
https://bswaid.org
info@bswaid.org

Black Country Women’s Aid
Confidential helpline: (24/7) 0121 552 6448
For advice or access to support services: Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm 0121 553 0090
Text or WhatsApp: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm 07384 466 181
https://blackcountrywomensaid.co.uk
info@blackcountrywomenaid.co.uk

Haven Refuge Wolverhampton
Confidential helpline: (24/7) 08000 194 400
WhatsApp Helpline: Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm 07719 558 183
Live Chat: Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm
https://havenrefuge.org.uk
referralpoint@havenrefuge.org.uk

National

Women’s Aid
Webchat: 7 days a week, 10am – 6pm
https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk

Refuge
National domestic abuse helpline: (24/7) 0808 2000 247
Webchat: Mon-Fri 3pm – 10pm
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/en/Chat-to-us-online
Support in BSL: Mon-Fri 10am – 6pm
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/en/bsl

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Galop)
Confidential helpline: Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm, Wed & Thu 10am – 8pm 0800 9995428
Webchat: Wed & Thu 5pm – 8pm
https://galop.org.uk/get-help/helplines/
help@galop.org.uk

Respect – Men’s advice line
For men affected by domestic abuse: Mon-Fri 9am – 8pm 0808 801 0327
Email support: Mon-Fri 9am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 10am – 12pm & 4pm – 6pm
info@mensadviceline.org.uk
https://mensadviceline.org.uk/

The Mix – Essential support for under 25s
Confidential helpline: 7 days a week, 3pm – 12am 0808 808 4994
Webchat: 7 days a week, 3pm – 12am
https://www.themix.org.uk/
Crisis messenger: (24/7) text THEMIX to 85258

If something doesn’t feel right, there are people out there who will listen and who will believe you. When you pick up the phone to speak to someone, we will believe what you say, and take it from there to support you in whatever way you need.
Anna, BSWA

Download your free copy of This isn’t what love should feel like.

This isn’t what love should feel like has been generously supported by Arts Council England.

End Violence Against Women have responded to the launch of the inquiry into systemic failings that enabled serving Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens to abuse his power to abduct, rape and murder Sarah Everard. They have also issued a set of demands to ensure this inquiry is not a missed opportunity to make real and meaningful changes to the epidemic of violence against women that prevails throughout society and policing.

‘Political attention to the violence against women and girls perpetrated, normalised and covered up within our police forces is long overdue. But by focusing on the actions of one perpetrator and not examining the underlying culture of policing that has failed women and girls and enabled perpetrators within its ranks, we are concerned this inquiry will be a missed opportunity to address wider failings across all police forces, as well as the broader societal issues underpinning male violence against women and girls.’

Read their full statement and list of demands here.

Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid’s webchat service turned one earlier this year. The service has supported hundreds of women so far, but could support more. At the moment it operates Monday to Friday, we know that we are missing women who need this service to be available 7 days a week. To raise the additional money to extend the service into the weekend we’re encouraging our supporters to Walk it, or Work out this autumn.

The challenge?

• walk or run 40 miles
• or do 40 minutes of working out every day. That could be a boogie in your kitchen, walking the dog, doing the school run – you choose!

To get started head to the BSWA campaign page to find out more

PODCAST TIME 🎙🎧👂

FWFC members Katy Sadler and Sarah Taylor Silverwood joined Amelia Hawk on her podcast Otherwise Silent, talking about women’s safety in public space.

The conversation was sparked in part by the murders of Sarah Everard, Blessing Olusegun, Nicole Smallman and Biba Henry and how women are sharing their safety precautions, especially at night.

We also talked about abuse and harassment in schools and the need for education to be all encompassing and start by breaking down gender stereotypes.

Thank you so much Amelia for inviting us to be part of this discussion, go to the link on her website or to your usual podcast places to listen 🎧

This government is planning to open a new detention centre for women in autumn. Detention harms women by locking them up when they need protection.

Every woman deserves a chance to rebuild her life in safety. Yet, instead of getting the support they need, too often women’s experiences are not believed and they are locked up in immigration detention. Most women held in detention are known to be survivors of trafficking, torture, or sexual violence. Detention is harmful, as well as expensive, unjust and unnecessary.

We need more kindness and compassion, not a new detention centre.

Agnes needed protection, but instead she was detained for months before being granted refugee status. Over 14,000 of you have already joined Agnes to say #NoToHassockfield. Add your name to show your solidarity and to stop this new detention centre from opening.

We want to connect with MPs before they go on recess for summer to tell them that we do not want this new detention centre for women to open.

You can use this easy tool to tweet your MP to say #NoToHassockfield or use this simple tool to write to your MP to tell them to take action to stop the new detention centre from opening. Our MPs can make a difference – contact yours today!