Help for People Affected by Domestic Abuse

If you are experiencing domestic abuse help is available. Don’t delay in seeking help during the lockdown.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include, but is not limited to:

• coercive control and ‘gaslighting’
• economic abuse
• online abuse
• verbal abuse
• emotional abuse
• sexual abuse

What signs to look for:

If you believe that you or someone else could be a victim of domestic abuse, there are signs that you can look out for, including:

• being withdrawn
• having bruises
• someone else controlling their finances
• not being allowed to leave the house
• monitoring technology use such as social media platforms

 Where to get help ?

Don’t delay in getting help or reporting domestic abuse because of the coronavirus situation.

 

Call the 24-hour Domestic Abuse Helpline in confidence on 0800 027 1234 or visit the Safer Scotland website

If it is an emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the Police.

For links to services in Angus visit our website

SMS 999 text system

People who are Deaf, hard of hearing or have issues communicating verbally can use the SMS 999 text system (you must register for this service).

For non-emergency use dial 101. Members of the deaf community can use the Contact Scotland facility. You can find the online form on the Scotland Police website.

If you are behaving in an abusive or harmful way please call Justice Services in confidence on 07920284216 and we will work with you to make positive changes.

 

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New crisis fund to help households in fuel poverty

Scarf has partnered with Home Energy Scotland to launch a new emergency hardship fund. The fund aims to help the most vulnerable households heat their homes in these difficult times.

The Scarf Heat Fund will help provide instant access to heat for those most at risk of, or suffering from fuel poverty.

The fund can provide help and support in the form of:

• Plug-in heaters.
• Prepayment cards.
• Access to costs for emergency boiler repairs.

This is not an exhaustive list and each application will be treated on a case-by-case basis with those suffering from fuel poverty given priority.

For more information on how to reduce your energy use while at home you can check out the Scarf website or access free and impartial advice from the Scarf team by speaking to one of our experienced advisors.

 

Call Home Energy Scotland at Scarf on 0808 808 2282 for more information on how to access Scarf’s fund as well as other grants and schemes.

Advice for Private Rented Tenants from Under One Roof

We understand things are difficult for everyone at the moment, but there are particular challenges for those living in private rented accommodation with shared stairwells and common areas.

Below we share the UnderOneRoof guidance on how to keep common areas safe and clean.

Keeping your close clean will not only make you feel better about your home where you are spending so much time just now, but it’s also important to protect your health.

If you employ commercial close cleaners, you may find that they are unable to keep to their usual schedules.  You may need to take action yourselves.

Communicate With Your Neighbours

Find a way of warning neighbours that cleaning is in progress so you can avoid having to pass closely on the stairs

Protect Yourself

• Wear protective gloves if available.
• If you can’t get disposables, write your name on the gloves so you don’t end up sharing them with other people
• Beware of splashing disinfectant on yourself.
• If you think you just might need to use eye protection then do.

What To Clean

You’ll want to up your cleaning schedule for the close but pay particular attention to

• handrails,
• door handles
• controlled entry key pads and door bells
• any parts of the close wall that get touched (grubby marks are a tell tale sign).

Cleaning Method

• Clean off the visible dirt and grease thoroughly first of all with soap and water – dirt reduces the effectiveness of disinfectants.
• Allow to dry
• Then disinfect surfaces with any of the following:
• Disinfectant wipes
• Standard household disinfectant – read and follow the instructions carefully
• Diluted bleach solution (bleach can be dangerous if misused so see further guidance)

How Often to Clean

Floors: two or three times a week

Handrails, handles, door entry pads etc: once a day would be a good target for most closes but twice a day would be better if many people pass through your common areas.

Worried About Energy Bills? Home Energy Scotland Can Help

If you are concerned about energy bills, or how to stay warm at home, Home Energy Scotland telephone advisors are on hand with the latest information and advice from energy suppliers and the Scottish Government. This includes support for pre-payment meter customers and how they can top-up by post or other means.

Please call 0808 808 2282 for free and impartial advice or request a call back.

Their service is free and impartial and committed to keeping you warm.

 

Keep Your Distance and Save Lives

As the weather has improved in recent days, we have received an increase in the number of complaints about social distancing not being followed, within our tenancies and in communal areas.

We understand that it can be frustrating not being able to meet friends and family in person, but we must remind our tenants and other householders about the importance of following the national directive:

• Follow the government’s social distancing guidelines
• This includes communal gardens and spaces
• Only have barbeques and gatherings with members of your own household in the garden of your own property.

This will help:

• Protect you, your family and others
• Protect the NHS
• Save lives

Thank you to the vast majority of people who are following this guidance and who understand the need for the restrictions to be in place. For others who choose to ignore the guidance, the Police have powers to fine anybody not following these instructions.

The Police do have the same powers in terms of communal gardens and spaces as they do for public parks to enforce social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

See the Police message in the video

We care about keeping everyone in Angus safe and well.

Support for People in Immediate Danger in Angus

If you need to access help or support or you are concerned about someone else in Angus, do not hesitate to seek support.

Concerns about an adult at risk:

ACCESSLine: 03452 777 778                                                             

This service is available Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5pm

Concerns about a child at risk:

ACCESSLine: 03452 777 778           

 This service is available Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5pm                             #KeepingKidsSafeC19

Support for children:

Childline offers free, confidential advice and support whatever your worry, whenever you need help: 0800 1111

NSPCC Helpline – If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact our professional counsellors for help, advice and support: 0808 800 5000

 

Support for women:

Angus Women’s Aid (AWA): 01241 439437

Tayside Domestic Abuse Service:0771 447 4112

Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (WRASAC), Dundee and Angus: 01382 201291

Victim Support Angus: 01241 877563

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234

Scottish Women’s Aid: 0800 027 1234

National Rape Crisis: 0808 801 0302

Rape Crisis Scotland Textline: 07537 410027

 

Support for men:

Respect, Men’s Advice Line (Scotland): 0808 801 0327

Survivors UK: 0203 598 3898

 

Victim support:

Angus: 01241 878507

National Helpline: 0800 160 1985

 

Out of hours:

Contact outwith daytime hours can be directed to                                                                   Social Work Out of Hours Service: 01382 307964                                                           (evenings between 4.45pm and 9am, weekends)

 

Additional information:

Housing: 03452 777 778

Voluntary Action Angus: 01307 466113

 

Substance use:

Please see Angus Alcohol and Drug Partnership website for the wide variety of resources available.

 

For more details see the Immediate Danger Flyer

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – NHS guidance in other languages and formats

To make the latest guidance about COVID-19 accessible for everyone, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government have now added translated information on coronavirus to the NHS inform website.

The guidance is available in :

– other languages: Arabic, Mandarin, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Romanian and Urdu

– formats : BSL and Easy Read

Advice for Council Tenants Wishing to Give Up Their Tenancy – Update

If you wish to give up your tenancy you can do so in writing (no termination form will be required). You must give 28 days’ notice.

Your letter can be short but must contain:

• your name and the names of any other joint tenant
• the address of the property
• your forwarding address
• the date you are leaving – but note you must give 28 days’ notice
• your reason for leaving
• the signatures of all tenants

Please deliver your letter and your keys to your local Housing office

The addresses are as follows:
Arbroath/Carnoustie/Monifieth – keys for termination of tenancy should be delivered to the mailbox at Dewar House, 12 Hill Terrace, Arbroath DD11 1AJ. In the event that you are unable to do this, alternative arrangements can be made by contacting houarbroathcht@angus.gov.uk
Forfar/Kirriemuir – Montrose Road Centre, Montrose Road, Forfar DD8 2HT
Brechin/Montrose – Townhouse, High Street, Montrose DD10 8QW

 

Health Concerns and Not Sure Where to Turn?

With the number of coronavirus cases increasing and introduction of the strict lockdown mode, it’s easy to feel unsure for the health of yourself and others.

A number of health organisations and health-care professionals offer support to look after yourself during this time. The following resources provide useful information and advice as well as direct support:

General health: NHS Inform and Ready Scotland websites

Local mental health and wellbeing support services:

• Penumbra Angus Wellbeing Services – enquiries and referrals can be made at angus.nova@penumbra.org.uk
• Penumbra Angus Peer Service – telephone appointments can be booked through GP Practices
• Angus Suicide Prevention Service – telephone and email support (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm). Contact aspss@penumbra.org.uk or 0800 135 7899. General updates are posted on Facebook
• Community Listening Service – the service has moved to a telephone listening service during the coronavirus outbreak. Anyone in Tayside can contact the listening service – phone or text 0796 777 1941 – to arrange a telephone appointment.

Drug and Alcohol Services:

• We Are With You– Free confidential support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health (online and telephone service)
• Tayside Council on Alcohol (TCA) – contact can be made on Email: enquiries@alcoholtayside.com, Facebook or phone 01241 872989 (leave a message)
• SMART Recovery – online SMART meetings can be accessed at the SMART website

Online Support:

• Cool2Talk – This is a confidential place and 121 counselling service for young people aged between 12 and 26 to freely ask questions about things that are affecting them.
• Suicide? Help! – an information app for people who are thinking about suicide or worried about someone else. As well as providing information about suicide, such as how to get help and what signs to look for in others, this app provides details of relevant local services
• Money Worries? – This app is a comprehensive resource which points people to the right help in a crisis. Search for ‘Money Worries? Find the right help in a crisis’ on the app stores.
• Living Life to the Full – a free life skills course teaching how to tackle and respond to issues or demands in everyday life. Includes specific wellbeing advice related to Coronavirus for adults, young people and their parents and health workers.
• Parents helpline (Parentline Scotland – tips, advice and support for parents) – 08000 28 22 33
• Domestic abuse helpline (Domestic Violence Helpline – confidential support from highly trained female advisors) – 0800 027 1234
• Bereavement helpline (Cruse Bereavement Care) – 0845 600 2227 – offers support to people who have lost someone close
• LGBT health and wellbeing helpline (LGBT Helpline Scotland – information and emotional support) – 0300 123 2523
• Samaritans –call 116 123, email: jo@samaritans.org – provides 24 hour confidential emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide

Mental Health National Websites:

• Alcohol Change UK – Information and advice on alcohol during the coronavirus outbreak, including how to manage your drinking
• SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) – Hub of information and guidance about looking after your mental health as the coronavirus developments continue
• Mind – information on coronavirus and your wellbeing, including useful checklists to help people to prepare for and cope with social isolation
• Mental Health Foundation – information on looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
• Young Scot – find out more about what’s happening and the simple steps you can take to help prevent catching COVID-19 and spreading to others. Also find out more about what you can do if you are feeling anxious and worried, and how you can support others in your community
• Young Minds – support for young people and parents who are struggling with news about coronavirus. Information for parents on talking to their children about coronavirus
• COSLA – advice for supporting children and young people during Covid-19

 

Support and financial advice during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties, concerns or questions about their circumstances should seek out the right information and support as soon as they can.

We realise that some people who pay Council Tax and Rent may have their incomes affected as a result of the measures taken in response to COVID-19. That could result in them having difficulty in paying their Council Tax or Rent.

If you think you may have difficulty paying your Council Tax or Rent then please contact the Council as soon as possible on 03452 777 778 and we will discuss it with you.

We know that our phone lines will continue to be extremely busy so, if it is an option, please use our online services, including our Contact the Council webpage, which provides information on ways to get in touch and to access council services.

We also recognise that some people in Angus may now require to Access Welfare Entitlements, where they might not have needed to previously. You will find helpful information about Benefits and Money Advice on our website.

For more details on financial advice and assistance see the Angus Council News website.

See the Angus Council News general website for daily updates.