Advice and domestic abuse support available from Calan DVS

As lockdown restrictions continue to ease across Wales, Calan DVS has re-opened its offices at Derwen Road in Bridgend town centre to provide emergency appointments for people who are experiencing domestic abuse.

With social distancing, hand-hygiene and PPE procedures in place, the emergency appointments can be made over the telephone and are initially available between 9am-1pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 1pm-5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Calan DVS will be making additional changes in coming months as the lockdown develops further and they look towards a gradual reopening of support centres. The service has also continued to make a range of emergency support available throughout the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Domestic abuse support has been carried out mainly through telephone contact, with personal appointments taking place when it has been safe to do so, while on-call support and refuge accommodation for anyone in need of a safe place to live have both remained available.

There have been well-publicised national concerns that domestic abuse could increase during the coronavirus lockdown, so it has been vitally important to ensure that support has remained available to local communities throughout the crisis.

I’d like to thank the team at Calan DVS for all of their efforts to ensure that such support has indeed been in place for the residents of Bridgend County Borough, and that people have been able to access essential help and advice despite the difficulties posed by the coronavirus.

As restrictions start to ease, it’s good to see Calan DVS taking swift action to reintroduce face-to-face contact for emergency appointments as safely as possible. I know that the team is working to introduce further changes to support local residents, and I hope that people will feel reassured that it remains available and accessible despite the pandemic. I also urge anyone who has need of this important service to get in touch, and to find out how Calan DVS can help.

Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations

• To speak to someone about arranging an emergency appointment or to find out more about how Calan DVS can support you, call 01656 815919, email assia@calandvs.org.uk or visit Calan DVS website.