Floating Support

What is Floating Support?
Floating Support offers support, advice, information and assistance to women and children affected by domestic violence, enabling them to maximise their independence in the community and manage an independent tenancy.

The Floating Support service aims to offer a point of contact for women affected by domestic violence and is committed to provide a safe, sensitive, non-judgmental and non-oppressive support service.

Who is it for?
Women and children affected by domestic violence, with a tenancy or who are taking up a tenancy. This includes women who:

• are coming out of a refuge or other safe, temporary accommodation (e.g. a friend’s house) and taking up a tenancy
• have left a shared home to set up on their own
• are living alone after the abusive partner has left

Women can contact us in the strictest confidence.

Who are the workers?
Specialist domestic violence support workers – all women – trained in social welfare matters including housing and accommodation, welfare benefits, debt and money advice, employment and training, children’s welfare.

What kind of support?
The Floating Support service provides advice, information, assistance and advocacy on a range of matters promoting the welfare and safety of women and children. This includes support on issues such as:

• setting up a new home
• debt
• budgeting skills/ financial management
• setting up contracts with utilities (e.g. gas)
• accessing resources such as Community Care grants, budgeting loans, etc for essential purchases (e.g. furniture)
• familiarising a woman with the area she’s moved in to and what local amenities are available to her (e.g. places of worship, shops, leisure services)
• signposting or referring to services offering employment, education and/or training
• welfare for children, such as schools/ playschemes, doctors, dentists
• liaising with police Domestic Violence Unit to make sure accommodation is safe
• health and safety checks (e.g. smoke alarms, fire alarms, panic alarms, mobile phones)
• being a listening ear!

How do I access it?
Women can either contact the Floating Support Team directly, or can be referred by agencies or professionals, such as Neighbourhood Offices, Social Services, health worker, etc.

For more information, telephone 0121 685 8687