Cuts to domestic violence help

Help for men who've been violent towards their partners in the Thames Valley to be scrapped under budget cuts

Heart's found out a service in the Thames Valley to help men who've been violent towards their partners CHANGE is being scrapped under budget cuts.

Almost 200 men have been refered to the Changing Ways Programme since it was set up in East Berkshire in 2007.

The programme is open to men aged 18 and over living in Bracknell Forest, Slough, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham.

The group sessions are designed to help men understand their behaviour, accept responsibility for their violence and learn how to change.

Referrals to Changing Ways are accepted from any agency operating in the East Berkshire and Wokingham area, for example social services, or men can refer themselves directly to the programme.

Sophie Wing-KIng - the domestic abuse co-ordinator for Berkshire East told Heart "Real and positive changes have been made, even if a couple have decided that their relationship should end. We would encourage men who are abusive and violent towards their female partner or ex-partner to reflect on their behaviour and seek support to change."

Getting help:

Berkshire Women’s Aid (Covering Bracknell, West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham)
www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk
0118 950 4003

Berkshire East & South Bucks Women’s Aid (covering RBWM, Slough and South Bucks)
http://www.ebwomensaid.org.uk/
01753 549865

Kinara Asian Women’s Service
01753 592988

Respect Phoneline
http://www.respectphoneline.org.uk/phoneline.php

0845 122 8609

Other useful websites:

Bracknell Forest Council www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/domesticabuse

RBWM www.rbwmdvf.org.uk

Slough Borough Council http://www.slough.gov.uk/services/13358.aspx

For men in the West Berkshire area, wishing to change their abusive behaviour, there is the Making Changes programme 01635 264694