What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence is the physical, emotional, financial, sexual or mental abuse of one person by another with whom they are or have been intimate partners or between family members.
Such abuse occurs in all sections of the community, across all age groups regardless of gender or sexuality. Usually but not exclusively women are more frequently the victims of abuse and men are the perpetrators.
What can it include?
- Physical abuse may include slapping, punching, spitting, pinching, grabbing by the throat.
- Emotional or mental abuse can be very destructive and may involve: constant criticism; threats to you or children and family; not allowing you to sleep or have your freedom; withholding food or money.
- Sexual abuse may include being forced to have sex without consent or to do things that make you feel uncomfortable.
- Harassment may include phone calls, following you, turning up at work or where you are socialising, sitting outside your home.
Our Vision
Wigan’s Domestic Violence Partnership believes that domestic violence and all forms of abuse are totally unacceptable. We will work together to challenge these criminal behaviours and bring perpetrators to justice; we are committed preventing domestic abuse and improving support and protection for victims.
Our Mission
- To raise public awareness of domestic violence with regard to its nature, impact and prevalence.
- To encourage all agencies to take a pro-active approach to addressing domestic violence by the ongoing development of preventative initiatives, which will reduce domestic violence and in particular repeat victimisations.
- To develop a co-ordinated approach to accessible service provision to meet the needs of all the diverse sections of the community.
- To work with all relevant statutory and voluntary sector agencies to ensure that workers are appropriately trained and aware of the complex issues involved in domestic violence.
You Can Help
If you are concerned about someone who may be a suffering from Domestic Violence take a look at our Friends and Family booklet and see how you can help. Friend Family booklet (.pdf, 300kb)
Local Services
Women’s Aid
Services provided:
- Safe accommodation (in Wigan) with 24-hour staff support
- 24-hour Helpline
- Parenting support
- Access to specialist services for ethnic minority groups
Agency address: Hawthorn House, P. O. Box 367, Wigan WN1 2WX
Contact number: 01942 496094
Email: hawthornhouse@btconnect.com
Website: http://www.womensaid.org.uk/ (External link)
Helpline: 24-hour helpline and on-call service
Opening times: 24 access via telephone
WAVE
Services provided:
- Safe accommodation (in Leigh) with 24-hour on-call support
- 24-hour Helpline, (at project)
- Counselling
- Drop-in service
- Access to interpreters (Language Line)
Agency address: P. O. Box 1, Leigh WN7 1LS
Contact number: 01942 262270
Email: wavedvcentre@supanet.com
Website: http://www.wavedvcentre.com/index.htm (External link)
Helpline: 24-hour helpline and on-call service
Opening times: 24-hour access via telephone; counselling and other services by appointment.
Victim Support and Witness Service
Services provided include:
- Home Visits
- Practical Support
- Specialist support in court and throughout legal proceedings (Witness service)
- Support to make claims for Criminal Injuries Compensation
- Counselling
Agency address: Gerrard Winstanley House, Crawford Street, Wigan WN1 1NG
Contact number: 01942 322033
Email: info@victimsupport-Wigan.co.uk
Website: http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/ (External link)
Contact times: Monday-Friday, 9a.m.-5p.m. Answer-machine service at all other times.
Opening times: Monday-Friday, 9a.m.-5p.m. Tuesday 9.am –7.pm
DIAS
The DIAS Domestic Violence Service is the main provider of a range of non-residential domestic violence services. With 3 centres in the Wigan Borough. DIAS Domestic Violence Centre exists to provide vital counselling, support, advice and assistance to help those members of the community women, men & children; that have experience of domestic violence.
DIAS Domestic Violence Centres provide:
- Drop In assistance; no appointment is required
- Emotional Support
- Practical Support
- Help to obtain safe accommodation
- Legal Guidance
- Professional counselling is by appointment only
- Support for family members
All these services are free
DIAS Wigan
Agency address: Suite 38, Rodney House, King Street, Wigan WN1 1BT
Contact number: 01942 495230
Fax: 01942 491477
Email: diasdvc@aol.com
Contact times: Monday-Friday 9a.m.-4p.m. Answer machine at all other times.
Opening times: Drop-in service between Monday-Thursday, 10a.m.-1p.m. Appointments available Monday-Friday.
DIAS Tyldesley
Agency address: 136A Elliot Street. Tyldesley. Wigan. M29 8FJ
Contact number: 01942 895212
Fax: 01942 895212
Email: diastyld@aol.com
Contact times: Monday-Friday 9a.m.-3.30p. Answering machine at all other times.
Opening times: Drop-in service Monday-Thursday, 10.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. Appointments available Monday-Friday.
DIAS Hag Fold
Agency address: 69 Warwick Road. Hag Fold. Atherton. Wigan M46 9PQ
Contact number: 01942 495230
Fax: 01942 491477
Email: diashfold@aol.com
Contact times: Monday-Friday 9a.m.-4p.m. Answer machine at all other times.
Opening times: Please ring for details of all services.
Police non-emergency
0161 856 5050
National Services
Childline (External link): 0800 1111
National Domestic Violence Helpline Number (Freephone): 0808 2000 247
Emergency numbers
Ambulance, Fire Service or Police: 999
Accident and Emergency (Wigan): 01942 822440 or 822441
If you are concerned about your behaviour towards your partner visit http://www.respect.uk.net/ (External link)
If you are a man experiencing Domestic Violence, find contact details for the mens advice line at http://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/ (External link)
