Deaf Hope Services
Deaf Hope is a new specialist domestic abuse service for Deaf women and children, and the first service of its kind in the UK. We have been established around 18 months and our current funding is focussed on London, Greater London and SE England. We can, however, give advice and information or assessment for Deaf women outside of these areas.
We work closely with mainstream domestic abuse services and Deaf women can either use our service or, with our support, access mainstream services. Our aim is to remove the barriers that prevent Deaf women seeking support to escape domestic abuse.
Current services include :
1. IDVA – the first Deaf Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy service, supporting Deaf women at high risk. We provide risk assessment, safety planning and support to access refuges, along with ongoing support with practical and emotional issues.
2. Young Deaf Hope – this is a prevention and protection service aimed at 11-30 year olds. There are two main strands to this work :
a) Awareness raising of healthy relationships, cyber bullying, sexting and domestic abuse through a series of workshops to 11-16 year olds in Deaf schools, Partial hearing Units and Young clubs. We will also offer one to one support to young Deaf people who have witnessed domestic abuse.
b) Support to 16-30 year old Deaf females who are seeking to leave abusive relationships, or who need to support to stay safe within an abusive relationship. This is medium to low risk cases.
3. Outreach support – providing on going support to medium-low risk cases, including Deaf women who have relocated from refuge or from areas outside of London/SE.
4. Survivors workshops and online forum. We can provide closed workshops to Deaf women who need support for confidence and self esteem building. In addition, we can support Deaf women to access an independent Deaf survivors social group.
5. Training services – two main areas of training as follows :
a) Professionals – providing awareness of how to support Deaf women and children who are experiencing domestic abuse.
b) Deaf community – workshops for Deaf women that aims to raise awareness of the issues around domestic abuse and how to stay safe.
6. Equipment Loan. We have a small bank of safety/security equipment for emergency loan, including portable fire alarms for use in refuge/emergency accommodation.
Referral process :
We are based in Balham, however this is an administration base and we operate from safe discreet locations around London and SE England. Referrals can be from police, social services, domestic abuse service providers by contacting us on the email address below. We also accept self referrals from Deaf women. Allocation meetings are held weekly.
Deaf Community
Many mainstream service providers see deafness as a disability and often fail to acknowledge that the Deaf community is very small and very close. Thus a Deaf woman experiencing domestic abuse can be at risk from her own community, experiencing similar problems to women from ethnic communities. Many Deaf people leave school with a reading age of 9 years and are often unaware of the issues of domestic abuse and where to seek help. Not all Deaf people are aware of the emergency sms service. 90% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents and are more likely to copy what they see and, if living in an environment of domestic abuse, can go on to repeat this behaviour in adulthood.
Around 45% of Deaf people experience mental health issues at some point in their lives, and Deaf women who are experiencing domestic abuse can experience additional mental health issues as a direct result of the abuse they suffer.
Whereas traditionally Deaf people would stay within their community, marrying or taking partners from within their close community circles, technological advances have changed this. With the ease of access to internet social websites, online dating and Camfrog chat rooms, Deaf women are vulnerable to being enticed abroad to marry Deaf or hearing partners who are using them to gain British citizenship and permanent visas. Abuse escalates once these immigrant partners have their visa and the Deaf woman is no longer of use.
This is just a brief overview of the work of Deaf Hope, for more information and advice on our services or training, or to make a referral, please contact us
Tele/Textphone : 0208 772 3241
SMS : 07970350366.
Deaf Hope
The Bridge
Falcon Mews
46 Oakmead Road
Balham
London SW12 9SJ
Website: http://www.signhealth.org.uk/index.php?pageID=152#
New posters and leaflets with smart links to the newly developed website will soon be available. If you wish to be placed on our mailing list please contact us.