COVID-19 and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
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- Important things to remember
- How to get help
- When to get help
- Getting Help Safely
- Information for Haringey Practitioners
- Information and Resources for Survivors
- Keep in Touch
As advice remains to stay at home, we know some people will be feeling anxious about the prospect of themselves or loved ones being at home with abusive partners or relatives.
This page contains guidance and information for residents and professionals who may be worried about themselves or someone else at risk of Domestic Abuse (DA) or any type of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Violence Against Women and Girls includes the following:
- Domestic Abuse
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Forced Marriage
- So-called 'Honour Based Violence'
- Sexual Violence, Abuse, and Exploitation
- Sexual Harassment and Bullying
- Coercive and Controlling Behaviour
- Stalking
Important things to remember
Help is available
- Details of how to access support are in the following section
You are allowed to leave your home to flee violence or abuse
- Government lockdown restrictions and guidance to stay at home do not apply if you are in danger of VAWG. Read more from the Home Office (external link).
Violence Against Women and Girls is never acceptable
- The effects of COVID-19 and the government lockdown are causing stress and anxiety for many individuals, families, and communities. However, abuse and violence are never acceptable, no matter what the circumstances and conditions are. If someone is abusing you, it is their choice and it cannot be excused because of the pandemic. Help is available for survivors and perpetrators.
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How to get help
For survivors
- If you are in immediate danger, always ring the police on 999
- If you are unable to speak, you can press 55 on a mobile phone and this will transfer your call to the relevant police force who will assist you without you having to speak. For more information about how this works, see the document: What to do if you need urgent police help through the 999 service, but can’t speak (external link - PDF, 348KB)
- Haringey Domestic Abuse Helpline (Mon-Fri 10am-5:30pm): 0300 012 0213
- If it is unsafe for you to speak on the phone, you can email HaringeyIDVA@niaendingviolence.org.uk
- Outside of these working hours, you can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline at any time on 0808 2000 247
- For more information about accessing support, and for a full list of services (including specialist services and support for male victims), see our Organisations offering support page
For perpetrators
- If you are concerned about your own abusive behaviour and want to get help, the Domestic Violence Intervention Project can help you.
- 020 7633 9181
- dvip.vpp@richmondfellowship.org.uk
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When to get help
- It is never too late or too soon to get support
- All forms of DA and VAWG are serious
- Violence is not always physical- Emotional, psychological, and economic abuse are forms of DA and VAWG
If you are not sure if you are being abused:
- You can call the Haringey Helpline (0300 012 0213) or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) for advice
- Women's Aid have a helpful tool (external link) to better understand if you are experiencing domestic abuse
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Getting Help Safely
- If you are self-isolating with your abuser and you are worried they are monitoring your mobile phone and other devices, there are ways to cover your tracks
- Our webpages have red 'Leave this page (external link)' buttons so that you can quickly leave these pages
- Please know that this does not remove the webpage from your browser history. See the Women's Aid website (external link) for more information on how to cover your tracks by deleting your search history and searching privately
- If making noise and speaking on the phone will put you at risk, remember you can:
- Email our Haringey Helpline on HaringeyIDVA@niaendingviolence.org.uk
- Use Women's Aid online chat option (external link)
- Still call 999 in an emergency. More information is in this document: What to do if you need urgent police help through the 999 service, but can’t speak (external link - PDF, 348KB)
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Information for Haringey Practitioners
Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls
If you are a professional supporting an individual or family who is experiencing DA or VAWG, please continue to refer according to the standard referral pathway.
- For women, please refer to NIA
- HaringeyIDVA@niaendingviolence.org.uk
- 0300 012 0213
- For men, please refer to Victim Support
- IVWS@victimsupport.cjsm.net
- IVWS@victimsupport.org.uk
- 0808 168 9111
- For children under 16, please refer to MASH
- For perpetrators who would like support, please refer to the Domestic Violence Intervention Project
- dvip.vpp@richmondfellowship.org.uk
- 020 7633 9181
- For high risk cases and safeguarding concerns, you should also refer the case to MARAC
- Agencies to send referrals to MARAC Coordinator AND Hearthstone, AND also copy in your agency's MARAC Rep (if applicable)
- For FGM, please refer to FORWARD
- support@forwarduk.org.uk
- 020 8960 4000
For additional specialist services, you can refer to Haringey VAWG Service Directory 2019 (PDF, 695KB).
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Referrals for additional support
- Southall Black Sisters No Recourse Fund (external link)
- If you are supporting a woman who is a survivor and has no recourse to public funds, you can refer her via the website to receive financial support
- Little Village (external link)
- If you are supporting a survivor with children under 5 years old, you can refer the family for an essential bundle pack via the website
Help us reach all VAWG survivors in Haringey during the lockdown:
- If your organisation has a newsletter, social media account, or any other way of reaching Haringey residents, please share our DA Helplines COVID-19 Poster (PDF, 303KB) so that survivors know what help is available.
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Information and Resources for Survivors
- Refuge's safety tips (external link) for Survivors During Isolation
- SEA (Surviving Economic Abuse): Guidance for Survivors During the Pandemic
- SafeLive's Survivor Podcast: Staying Safe at Home
- Government Advice on Applying for Domestic Abuse Injunctions for the First Time During the Pandemic
- Information about Changes to Asylum and resettlement policy in response to COVID-19
- Connected Communities: Support Accessing essential items and services
- If you are worried about the impact of coronavirus on your money, accessing essential items, or accessing the support you need, please call the Connected Communities helpline:
- 020 8489 4431 (9:30am-4:30pm Monday to Friday)
- If you are worried about the impact of coronavirus on your money, accessing essential items, or accessing the support you need, please call the Connected Communities helpline:
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Keep in Touch
Sign up to receive our Haringey VAWG Newsletter
Check out all of our previous Haringey VAWG Newsletters
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Haringey VAWG Team on VAWG@haringey.gov.uk
Page last updated:
16 October 2020
