Surviving domestic abuse can be a lonely, isolating experience – even more so for migrant women who are navigating life miles away from their families and support systems.
Despite limited resources, SEEAWA strives to provide guidance and support to East and Southeast Asian migrant women who have experienced domestic violence. Our services range from befriending, assistance in form filling, to providing tailored guidance and advice. Throughout all this, our aim is simple: to let our women know that they are not alone.
Jane*, a migrant woman based in Hackney, faced abuse at the hands of her then-partner. To make matters worse, her abuser had also been hurting their son. After their child reported the abuse at school, social services came to check in on them, and at the same time, Jane reached out to SEEAWA’s Women’s Support Officer, Lyn. Even as Jane experienced communication problems with her social worker, Lyn stood by Jane, checking in on her, giving her advice, and encouraging her to take the necessary steps to support herself and her child. Lyn also added Jane to a chat group with other women who have similar experiences of domestic violence, and together, the women drew strength from each other.
“Miss Lyn made me feel that I am not alone in my battle, that there is always someone out there who is always willing to help. There is always hope.”
– Jane,* service user since 2024
Like Jane, Maria* reached out to Lyn at a crucial point in her life. After experiencing repeated financial, sexual, and physical abuse from her husband, things came to a head for Maria when, during a particularly violent argument, she was forced to run for her life out into the cold winter rain. After being rescued by the police and given shelter by her local council, Maria contacted Lyn, who guided her through the process of applying for the migrant victims of domestic abuse concession (MVDAC), and later on for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). As Maria proudly shared, the ILR application she lodged with Lyn’s help was successful.
For migrant women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), applying for the concession and later, ILR, is crucial for them to be able to access benefits and get the support they need as they heal from domestic violence. But it is undoubtedly a long and tedious process, marked by re-traumatisation and anxiety – especially if they are working with social workers who often don’t understand their cultural background. With our Women’s Support Officer checking in on them at every step, our beneficiaries get the confidence and encouragement they need to advocate for themselves.
“I appreciated that there is a person who is willing to help all the time,” Jane shared. “Miss Lyn made me feel that I am not alone in my battle, that there is always someone out there who is always willing to help. There is always hope.”
*names changed to protect their identities