Domestic Abuse Services Information

Local Organisations

Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB)
Counselling & Family Mediation
Department Social Security
Health Services
Health Visitors
General Practitioners
Practice Nurses
Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar Housing Department
Legal advice
Lifestyle Centre Town Hall Stornoway
Northern Constabulary: Western Isles
Social Work Department:  Children & Families Team
Victim Support
Western Isles Woman’s Aid and Woman’s Resource Centre

Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB)

41/43 Westview Terrace,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis,
HS1 2HP

Tel No. 01851 705727

Referrals:

Open door service to clients, also accepts referrals from other sources.

Opening hours:

Mon, Tue, Thur & Fri Mornings 10.00am /12-45pm. Afternoon 2.00pm / 3.30pm
Wednesday 10.00am/ 12.45pm only.

Service Offered:

• The citizen’s advice bureau (cab) offers free, confidential, independent and impartial advice.  They ensure that individuals are informed of their rights and responsibilities in all areas of life.

There are four CAB offices throughout the Western Isles:

• Stornoway (01851) 705727
• Tarbert   (01859) 502431   
• Isle of Benbecula (01870) 602421
• Isle of Barra    (01871) 810608 

Counselling & Family Mediation

Contact names:

Cathie Paterson (Stornoway)

Stornoway Office :

Counselling & Family Mediation Western Isles,
Bridge Street Community Centre,
Bayhead,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis HS1 DU

Tel. No. 01851 706868.

Opening hours:

9.00a.m – 5.30.p.m. 

Uist office:

Counselling & Family Mediation,
8 Winfield Way,
Balivanich,
Isle of Benbecula HS7 5LH

Tel. No. 01870 603203.

Referrals:

Self-referral by telephone or in person at the office, G.P. referral, or Health Visitors, Solicitor, and Social Work or through other statutory or voluntary agencies.

Issues covered:

• Relationships (abusive or otherwise)
• Stress
• Bereavement
• Sexual abuse
• Alcohol or drug problems
• Depression
• Any other personal problems

Additional Information

• An answering machine is available for out of hour’s calls.
• Though family mediation does not deal directly with males who experience domestic abuse they can offer telephone contact numbers with support groups from the mainland who specialise in this area.
• Family mediation is a highly confidential service where people can talk freely and frankly safe in the knowledge that what is discussed during sessions cannot be used in civil proceedings, bar some exceptions, which will be explained to clients at the initial consultation

2 Castle Street.
Stornoway

Tel. No. 01851 763000

Contact:

New claims section or previously named contact person.

Opening hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 08.30.am – 4.00pm
Wednesday 10.00. am – 4.00pm
Friday 08.30. am – 3.30pm

Service Offered:

• Private interviews
• Clients can request a female officer to attend to their claim
• Information given on different types of benefits that may be claimed.
• Social fund loans (for people requiring assistance with basic needs like furniture etc)
• Budgeting loans (for people awaiting claims to be processed)
• Community care grants (for people in extreme circumstances)
• Assistance with child support agency forms

Additional Information:

• If all the information requested is given, a new claim can sometimes be processed the same day or within a few days. 
• If the person claiming is single and has dependant children they will be given an appointment with the Lone Parent advisor in the job centre on Francis Street.  This does not mean that the client has to be seeking employment only that they are given information on the financial assistance that is available to them when they are ready to return to work.  This appointment has to be kept by the claimant prior to their claim being processed, but can postponed in some circumstances like domestic abuse.  Advice and guidance is also offered on Child Tax and Working Families Tax Credit.

Health Services

Women, men, young people and children may approach a range of health services when they experience abuse.  They may require treatment for physical injuries from a hospital or local G.P. surgery.  They may contact their G.P for emotional support and advice, or seek a referral to other services.  Women may disclose abuse to health visitors, or other community health care providers.

Accident & Emergency Department Hospital Nan Eilean

Contact names:

Agnes Munro (Department Manager) or duty nurse/doctor

Address:

Accident & Emergency Department,
Western Isles Hospital,
Macaulay Road,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis.

Tel. No. 01851 704704 ext. 2261

Referrals:

Self-referral, emergency services or by other professional body

Services Offered:

• Medical treatment in department or referral on to another specialist ward or agency. 
• Information and advice on domestic abuse services provided by other agencies.
• Private and confidential consultation
• Recording of notable injuries which may be requested by courts as evidence against perpetrator

Health Visitors

Contact:

Local Doctors surgery.

Service Offered:

• Health visitors can be accessed by women who have young families, who can use them as a point of contact if they want to speak in confidence and private about any personal difficulties or concerns they may have regarding either their or their children’s welfare.
• Health visitors can also offer referral to other agencies. 

General Practitioners

Contact:

Local Doctors surgery.

Service Offered:

• Support, counselling or recording of notable injuries, which may be useful if the courts require evidence of an alleged assault.

Practice Nurses

Contact:

Local Doctors surgery.

Service Offered:

• Women who attend well woman clinics can speak to the practice nurses in confidence regarding any personal difficulties they may experience within the home.
• Practice nurses can offer support or referral to other agencies.

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar Housing Department

Contact names:

Lorraine Graham (Homeless Person's Officer)
Liz Macinnes (Allocations Officer)
Duty Housing Officer if out with hours.

Address:

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar,
Housing Department,
Sandwick Road,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis

Tel. No. 01851 703773   ext 374

Referrals:

Self referral or through other statutory or voluntary agency

Service Offered:

• Emergency housing, long/short term accommodation 
• Relocation of client to other housing
• Relocation of client to other areas
• Advice on housing and council tax benefit
• Transfer of tenancy

Additional Information:

• Local authorities have the power to repossess and transfer council tenancies.
• In the case of relationship breakdown this could be used to transfer the tenancy to people who finds themselves in a vulnerable position. 
• Housing staff can provide clients with current information in relation to their personal circumstances.

Legal advice

When dealing with domestic abuse issues, many people opt to use a lawyer who is not based on the island.  The lawyer who most people prefer to use is Eilidh MacDonald who is currently based in Inverness.

Firm Name and Address:

Simpson MacDonald
32 Church Street,
Inverness

Tel. No.   01463 238888
Fax:    01463 716046

Partners:   

Joyce Denise Simpson & Eilidh MacDonald  

Opening Hours:

9.am. - 5.pm. Monday to Friday

Service provided:

• Legal Advice & Information for all victims of domestic abuse.  They are Court Lawyers who have expertise in raising actions of interdict, exclusion order and actions of seeking non-harassment orders.  They are also Family Lawyers who also specialise in Child Care Law and Divorce Law.

Additional Information

• Contact number for out with office hours 01462 238888 (answering machine service)
• It has been found in practice that most clients (usually female) prefer to use the services of mainland-based solicitors when domestic abuse is the central issue. 
• The above solicitors is generally the one of choice.

Lifestyle Centre Town Hall Stornoway

Though lifestyle does not deal directly with incidents of domestic abuse they are often aware that domestic abuse is an issue in the home and is often exacerbated by misuse of drugs and alcohol. 

They are willing to support anyone who is affected by these issues in the home and can provide a confidential and discreet counselling service.

Address:

First Floor,
Town Hall,
Stornoway (Point Street entrance)

Tel. No. 01851 701010

Opening hours:

9.30am - 5.00pm (answer phone service out of hours)

Northern Constabulary: Western Isles

Contact names:

Donald McLeod, Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer (DALO) or
any other police officer in an emergency.

Address:

Northern Constabulary,
Western Isles Command Area,
The Police Station,
18 Church Street,
Stornoway

Tel. No.: (018510) 702222

Fax: 01851 705434.

Referrals:

Self- referral or referral through other statutory or voluntary agencies.

Services Offered:

• Within the police station the D.A.L.O. can provide private and confidential consultation for support, information and legislative services to protect women and children concerned with issues of domestic abuse.
• Information can be provided on other agencies regarding further support and protection that the clients can expect to be provided by other agencies.
• Safety advice on home i.e. personal alarms door locks emergency exit routes from home etc.
• Arrest the perpetrator where there is sufficient evidence
• Arrest the perpetrator if they have broken the terms of an interdict with power of arrest or their bail conditions and will automatically be reported to the procurator fiscal.
• Any form of domestic abuse (including harassment from an ex-partner) can be dealt with by the police.

Additional Information

• In Stornoway,the D.A.L.O is male but clients can request a female officer if preferred but at present there are no female police officers who are specifically trained in issues of domestic abuse.
• The following areas have a small working station based in them, which people can contact for advice.  Please note that these stations are not open 24hr.  All out of hour calls to these stations will be directed to the main station in Stornoway. 
  
  • Balallan - 01851 830222
  • Barvas     - 01851 840222
  • Carloway -    01851 643222
  • Ness -   01851 810298
  • Tarbert -    01859 502002
  • Isle of Barra -     01871 810276
  • Benbecula - 01870 602374
  • Lochmaddy -   01876 500328
  • Lochboisdale -    01878 700261

Social Work Department:  Children & Families Team

Contact names:

Duty Social Worker

Address:

Social Work Dept,
Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar,
Sandwick Road,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis

Tel. No. 01851 709572

Referrals:

Self-referral or by other professional body

Services Offered:

• Identification of the needs of children; social workers may be required to send a report to the children’s panel in cases where children are being affected by domestic abuse in the home.  
• Counselling and support can be given to parents if requested by clients
• Information on work of other agencies who may deliver a more appropriate service can be given to clients.
• Private and confidential consultation

Additional Information:

• Although not directly involved in delivering a service to those who have domestic abuse issues they are involved when child protection issues are present. 
• When information is received which suggests a child may be in need of compulsory measures of supervision, the social work service will make enquiries and pass their findings on to the reporter to the children’s panel.
• The following areas have Social Work Departments
  
  • Tarbert, Isle of Harris - 01859 502367
  • Isle of Benbecula -    01870 602425
  • Isle of Barra - 01871 810311

Victim Support

Address:

24 Millar Road,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis

Tel. No. 01851 702744 (answer phone service out of hours on this number)

Service Offered:

• Free, confidential, independent help when you need it
• Emotional support
• Practical assistance
• Reassurance and understanding

Western Isles Woman’s Aid and Woman’s Resource Centre

Contact:

Angela Campbell
Sue Robson
Cathie MacIver

Address:

53a Bayhead,
Stornoway,
Isle of Lewis HS1 2DZ

Tel. No. 01851 704750

Opening Hours:

Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, 10pm-4.30pm
Wed closed all day(emergency only)
Check with centre staff regarding availability of 7 day and 24hr on call service. (These services are only available when funding permits.)

Referrals:

Self - referral or referral by other agency (also accepts referrals from other areas.)

Issues covered:

• Violence against women (general)
• Domestic violence
• Rape & sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Child sexual abuse/incest: support for adult survivors
• Child sexual abuse/incest: support for women whose children have been abused
• Women’s issues general

Additional Information:

• Woman’s Aid and affiliated organisations are the largest providers of domestic abuse services in the United Kingdom whose core business is to provide safe accommodation, counselling, advocacy and support for women & children escaping domestic abuse in the home. They provide a highly confidential service to clients who contact them.
• The refuge does not have the facilities to accommodate women and children with special needs.