Women's refuge braced for a busy Christmas (From Swindon Advertiser)

Women's refuge braced for a busy Christmas

3:50pm Thursday 24th December 2009 in

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STAFF caring for victims of domestic abuse are expecting a surge in new arrivals over the Christmas period.

Jenni Manners, manager of Swindon Women’s Refuge, said she would predict four or five women to seek help from the service in the days after Christmas, particularly Boxing Day.

She said women generally do not leave a violent situation on Christmas Day because they do not want to ruin Christmas for their children.

Run by Swindon Women’s Aid, the refuge offers shelter, advice and support to victims of domestic violence and their children for an unlimited time.

Ms Manners, manager of the refuge for 32 years, said she had seen families brought in on Christmas Day and Boxing Day often with no possessions because they had left in a hurry.

She said: “It is often the day after when the violent person has exploded, smashed toys, smashed food.

“What we tend to forget is usually mothers do try to hang on through the Christmas period, almost no matter how bad it gets.

“It’s almost as if they don’t want to spoil the Christmas spirit. It’s a huge huge step to leave home.

“People don’t perhaps want to leave their friends and they don’t know what they might be going to.”

She said Christmas for some families was a time of raised tensions increasing the likelihood of domestic violence.

She said this was because money might be tighter as it had been spent on presents, more money has been spent on alcohol, and people were spending more time in each other’s company.

“There is an expectation that families always get on, but that’s not always the case,” she said.

The refuge offers a 24-hour helpline and access to emergency accommodation.

In 2008 it offered accommodation to 137 women and 146 children.

It also offered advice either over the telephone or face to face on domestic violence to men and women on 263 occasions.

Anyone who needs to speak to the refuge should call 01793 536447.

To speak to specially trained officers at Swindon police's domestic violence unit call 01793 507801.