Men and women affected by drug and alcohol misuse and who victims of domestic abuse are being encouraged to seek help at new support sessions.
The sessions, at the Safer Caerphilly Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) at Cameron House, Ystrad Mynach, are run exclusively for women every Tuesday morning between 9.30am and 11.30am and exclusively for men who are also suffering domestic abuse and have substance misuse issues, every Tuesday afternoon, 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
At each session visitors will be able to speak confidentially to a support worker on a one-to-one basis, pick up free information and advice about their situation and also access a range of other services available from the MAC.
Domestic abuse is an issue that will affect one in four women during their lifetime and refers not just to physical violence but also to emotional abuse, sexual abuse, isolating someone from their family or friends or controlling them financially or with drugs or alcohol.
In the past many of the domestic abuse cases received by the Safer Caerphilly MAC indicated the need for intervention and support from a specialist in substance and alcohol misuse.
Carolyn Dudley has worked within substance misuse support for sixteen years and has been in her current role as Substance Misuse and Domestic Abuse Worker for the Caerphilly Borough for the past two years.
She said: “Alcohol or drug use is never the reason for domestic abuse but it can exacerbate the situation.
“Alcohol use can sometimes become the method men and women use to cope and manage what is happening to them, but while it can relax a person and take them out of that situation for a time, it is a major mood altering substance and can be extremely harmful, having severe implications for the health of a person and for the well-being of the family.
“My job is not to judge or to make decisions for anyone.
“At the MAC we are a safe, confidential point of contact for anyone who is experiencing problems with substance use and domestic abuse and to provide choices and options where perhaps they felt there were none.
“I can give advice about services which are available should someone feel they may need help in dealing with their own alcohol or drug misuse and give help in getting family support through our partner service for people who are dealing with the alcohol or drug misuse of someone else in their family.”
The Safer Caerphilly MAC provides professional support from a range of agencies at one base and aims to minimise the number of different agencies that victims of domestic abuse and their families need to get in contact with to seek the help they need.”
Councillor Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment, said: “The Safer Caerphilly MAC provides really important help to many people who don’t know where to turn.
“I urge anyone reading this who is suffering from domestic abuse and misusing substances to seek help.
“Both are very serious problems, but both can be helped with the aid of the services on offer. The MAC can provide you with as little, or as much support you feel you may need.”
To contact the MAC team and find out more about accessing a one-to-one session call Carolyn
Dudley on 07875 332402 or email her at carolyn.dudley@gcadm.org.uk
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and want information, advice or support contact:
- The MAC Caerphilly team: 01443 819317
- Caerphilly Women’s Services free 24-hour helpline: 029 2086 0225
- The National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
- All Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 8010 800
- Childline: 0800 1111
- BAWSO (Black Association of Women Step Out) 24 hour helpline: 0800 731 8147
- Victim Support: 01633 861 861