News & Events - General

Welfare Services are working with Hestia Housing and Support, part of Kingston’s Domestic Violence Support Service, which also provides safe accommodation for women, and their children, who have had to leave an abusive or violent situation as a matter of urgency. They provide intensive support and guidance to help them to rebuild their lives and regain their confidence. Information about Hestia is available from their website at www.hestia.org

The Drop-In service will be held on the first Thursday of each month during term time, from 12.00 until 2.00pm, in Welfare Services on the ground floor at the main site.This service is of course in addition to the usual services offered by us, not instead of them.  So, if anyone needs help and advice they can still come and see us at our usual daily Drop-In sessions from 12.00 until 2.00pm, or by contacting us to make an appointment.  Likewise we can also put them in touch with Hestia at other times if they cannot come to the monthly session or would prefer not to. 

And just in case you have any doubts about the need for support for anyone experiencing domestic violence, here are some facts:
• Domestic violence claims the lives of 2 women every week
• Domestic violence is the biggest cause of death amongst women aged 19 to 44
• Women can, on average, experience 35 assaults before contacting the police
• Last year there were 1200 domestic violence offences reported in Kingston and Richmond alone
• In 90% of domestic violence incidents, the children are in the same or the next room