Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Addressing the needs of Woman and CYP from Black and Minority Ethnic groups Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid 57 Albion Road Edinburgh EH7 5QY 0131 4752399 info@shaktiedinburgh.co.uk www.shaktiedinburgh.co.uk Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid A voluntary organisation which offers information and support to Black Minority Ethnic women and their children, and young people experiencing and/or fleeing domestic abuse from Their husbands/partners ex-partners and/or other family members within a household Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Facts and Figures Established 1986 24 Staff 24 Languages Outreach Service in Fife, Stirling and Dundee 2013-2014: ? Women and ? Children Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Domestic Abuse and BME women Black Minority Ethnic Women have similar experiences of abuse as women from other groups. There are culturally specific forms of abuse. The way in which this group of women is treated by service providers is different. On average, a BME woman goes to 17 agencies before receiving the help that she needs. Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

NO ACCESS JOURNEYS OF ABUSED IMMIGRANT WOMEN Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

No Recourse to Public Funds Applies to individuals subject to Immigration Control Time bound Dependent on nationality and nature of visa (if any) Limits access to public funds and publicly funded services Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 NO Access to Benefits Income support Family credit Child benefit Council tax benefit, Housing benefit Income-based jobseeker's allowance Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 NO Access to Housing Council provided temporary and permanent accommodation Housing Benefit-funded refuge space New rules around access to housing benefit for EU citizens Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 What is She entitled to? Make an application for a section 12 Social Work (Scotland) Act payment from Social Work Department Make an application for accommodation and support costs using 22 and 25 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 if she has dependent children Make an application for housing to a housing association Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

What is She entitled to? (cont) Apply for Legal Aid Apply for Contributions-based Job Seekers’ Allowance She is entitled to work (subject to visa regulations) Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

2-Year Domestic Abuse Rule: Indefinite Leave to Remain Applies to women legally present in the UK on a 24/27 month spouse visa or as unmarried partner of a person settled in the UK. Applies to those whose relationship breaks down because of domestic abuse during this period. Women need to provide evidence for application to be successful Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Issues For Support Agencies Number of women with NRPF accessing domestic abuse services is increasing In 2013/2014 Shakti supported ? women Becoming difficult to access funds under Sections 22 and 25 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Women’s Aid groups unable to sustain the cost of accommodation Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Issues for support agencies (cont) Difficult to engage, hard to reach. More intense practical support required. Lack of services for 16-18 year olds Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279

Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Questions Registered Scottish Charity Number SC 008837 Shakti Women’s Aid is a company limited by guarantee registration number 273279