Women's Support Project
The Chinese Information and Advice Centre offers:
• Advice and information on issues relating to family law, such as divorce;
• Support to women and families in distress; and
• Advice and support for women victims of domestic violence, covering issues related to housing, legal protection, welfare benefits and children.
CIAC’s Women’s Support Project is dedicated to helping Chinese women and families who are struggling or in distress. Much of our work focuses on helping women who are experiencing marital of family difficulties, but we have helped women to access the support they need on a variety of different issues, from parenting to welfare benefits. Whether the problem is big or small and whether the service user is young or old, our Women’s Worker and dedicated team of trained women’s support volunteers do their best to help. Out of fear of “losing face” or being the subject of gossip, many Chinese women find it difficult to approach relatives or friends for help on sensitive issues, such as domestic violence or marital problems. This is why we are always careful to protect confidentiality and to respect each woman’s ability to make her own decisions. In addition to providing specialised help for domestic violence victims in the Chinese community, the Women’s Support Project gives ongoing support to lone mothers, helping them to access a variety of services, including housing, legal help, education and counselling. Bilingual women volunteers undergo a highly developed training programme to provide emotional and practical outreach support, such as accompanying women to appointments and helping to interpret.
Raising awareness of domestic violence and women’s issues continues throughout the year. CIAC's women's worker provides workshops and actively participates in forums and conferences on this issue. Last year, CIAC also helped develop the Chinese version of the Westminster Domestic Violence Forum’s multilingual website (www.westminsterdomesticviolenceforum.org.uk). CIAC was also featured as a model agency in Westminster Domestic Violence Forum’s Good Practice Guidelines.The Women’s Support Project is currently funded by the City Parochial Foundation and The Tudor Trust.
Becoming a Women’s Support Volunteer
CIAC recruits up to 10 volunteers a year to assist and support women victims of domestic violence and other Chinese women in need . These volunteers provide all kinds of support, including acting as the victim's interpreter at important appointments, filling out benefit forms and helping mothers to register their children for new schooling. Often volunteers simply listen, reassuring other women that they are not alone and helping them gain the confidence to move forward.
To become a women’s support volunteer, you must be:
• A woman over 18 years old;
• Bilingual in English and Chinese;
• Able to provide two references;
• Undergo a police check; and
• Willing to commit to being a volunteer for at least one year.
If you would like to become a CIAC women’s support volunteer, please contact CIAC's Women's Worker using the number given above, or email womensupport@ciac.co.uk.
If selected to become a women’s support volunteer, you take part in a training session, which includes topics such as domestic violence awareness, child protection and active listening skills. You are then matched with a service user with whom you meet on a regular basis. CIAC's Women's Worker remains involved throughout, giving regular supervision and guidance.
Women's Support: A case study
Mei (not her real name ) first phoned CIAC in tears, explaining that her husband had gambled away all the family's savings. She revealed that the couple's fights over money often ended in violence, which was getting more and more serious. She genuinely feared for her life and wanted to find a safe place to stay. Although Mei had tried phoning 999, she didn't know what to say to the police when they came, as she knew little English. CIAC's women's worker helped Mei find space in a women’s refuge and apply for welfare benefits in Mei’s own name. An outreach volunteer visited Mei and her toddler at the refuge and helped to interpret. Later the volunteer helped Mei to enrol inEnglish classes and find a nursery for her child. A year later, Mei's English has improved so much that she no longer requires regular interpreting from the volunteer, but still keeps in touch with her as a friend. Mei participates in social events organised by the Women's Support Project, and plans to look for work when her child is old enough to go to school.
Registered Charity Number 800646
All material on this site is © Chinese Information and Advice Centre Ltd 2004. All Rights Reserved.