Abuse Never Becomes Us
UK
Supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the Tamil Community
Covid-19
Covid-19 isolation support page
We know that this can be a particularly challenging time with Covid-19 isolation precautions currently in place. Staying at home may present an unsafe living environment if isolated with a perpetrator, potentially putting yourself in more harm.
Know that you are not alone, there is support for you, we’ve got some support advice, material and signposting organisations in the following material.
If you would like more support in accessing organisations or refuges contact us at ask@anbu.org.uk
Keeping happy at home
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To be asked to stay indoors with the same group of people can be difficult, especially in certain cases where elders in the house are critical, demanding or overbearingly strict.
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It is okay to have your own space and to be alone if things get overwhelming – this can take place in any form – be it meditating in your room or even just having a longer shower!
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Connecting to others is still very important during this time. Perhaps eating one meal with your family a day or doing one household activity be it cleaning or cooking can be helpful in maintaining familiar relationships with some boundaries.
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Call (with video if possible) other friends and family outside of your household and stay in touch.
Advice - for survivors
Keeping yourself safe is the priority:
Disclosing
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Allies are crucial for times like this with COVID -19, support for general wellbeing support an emergency support. See ANBU UK support videos on disclosing on our more general resources page by clicking here.
Keeping safe at home
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Find a safe space for you, if it’s a crowded home, try to find ways you can get out of the house safely, if you need to.
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Have a family, friend or neighbour that can check in with you as frequent as you need and have a code word if it is not safe to talk about it online.
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If you suspect that your partner or anyone else is about to attack you, try to go to a lower risk area of the house (e.g. where there is a way out and access to a telephone. Avoid places where there are likely to be knives or other weapons (e.g. kitchen, garage, etc.); and avoid rooms where you might be trapped (e.g. bathroom).
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If you are concerned for your safety contact one of the helplines listed to help you be in safer environment.
Keeping safe plan
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It may help to think of a plan in advance, how you might respond to different situations.
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think about who you could call or emergency helplines (contact numbers contained at the end).
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Keep spare change/payment card and mobile with you at all times, for transport or for calling if you need to leave quickly.
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Even if you have no plan to leave, think of where you could go, if you needed to. Think of how you might leave and where you could go where you would be safe.
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Go over your safety plan often.
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Share your Keeping Safe plan with someone you trust so that they can help with suggestions and support you in keeping the plan.
The silent solution
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The silent solution is a system for victims of domestic abuse who might be afraid of further danger and escalation of harm if they are overheard when calling 999 in an emergency.
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You can call 999, an operator will ask which emergency service is required. If the caller is unable to audibly signal to the operator, the call will be forwarded to an operating system. If 55 is pressed by the caller, the system will detect this. The operator will then transfer the call to the relevant police force as an emergency.
Advice - for the public
If you are worried about an adult
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If you are worried about a loved one isolating with a perpetrator, support them in accessing support material and organisations, (see end of this post).
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Always encourage them to call 999 in an emergency.
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Do not approach the perpetrator about their behaviour, this could escalate the abuse and put them in further danger. It is also important that you do not put yourself in a dangerous situation.
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If the you or the loved one require more advice, call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or contact the Helpline via Refuge’s contact form at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.
If you are worried about a child
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ANBU UK videos in Tamil and English go signs and effects of childhood sexual abuse with children, see them by clicking here.
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If you're worried about a child, even if you're unsure, you can call NSPCC anonymously (you do not need to tell them who you are, where you live or share your contact details if you choose not to), they can offer advice on whether you want to report child abuse and neglect or aren't sure what to do and can also take the next steps if a child's in danger.
Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and 9am – 6pm at the weekend. 0808 800 5000, Online 24 hours a day, 365 days a year help@nspcc.org.uk . -
If a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999 straight away
Signposting
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Freephone: 0808 2000 247 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that it is free, and confidential.
Helpline via Refuge’s contact form at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid
www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/
an online resource for survivors of domestic abuse. The Survivors’ forum can be accessed 24/7. This is a place where survivors can support each other and share their experiences.
Webchat: https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
available Monday to Friday 10- 12pm.
This could be a safer way to access some support; particularly if an abuser might also be in the property so it would be unsafe to make a telephone call.
Email: info@womensaid.org.uk
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
Asian Women’s Centre
Phone: 020 8961 6549 / 5701
Webchat: chat.womensaid.org.uk
Email: info@awrc.org.uk
Email: referrals@awrc.org.uk
https://www.asianwomencentre.org.uk/what-is-abuse/safety-advice
The Men’s advice line:
Freephone 0808 8010327
Webchat https://mensadviceline.org.uk/contact-us/
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – 10 – 11am and 3 – 4pm
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
https://mensadviceline.org.uk/contact-us/
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline and Galop
Freephone 0800 999 5428
Email: help@galop.org.uk
Webchat: http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/
5pm - 8pm Wednesday, 5pm - 8pm Thursday
Useful links
For detailed information about national and local support services go to: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
http://safelives.org.uk/covid-19
https://www.refuge.org.uk/covid19-survivor-tips/
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
Silent solution guide: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/research-learning/Silent_solution_guide.pdf
English Covid-19 Guidance
தமிழ் கோவிட் -19 வழிகாட்டுதல்
Tamil Covid-19 Guidance
Covid-19 Guidance documents - English & Tamil
Courtesy of Doctors of the World and the British Red Cross, we have shared their Covid-19 guidance which has the same information in both English and Tamil.
Please feel free to download and share.
These documents are from March 2020. Please ensure you follow local government guidance.