Alia's Story

(not her real name)

BACKGROUND

Often women and children who access our refuge services have been impacted by lifelong trauma in addition to the trauma that impacts them due to the domestic abuse they have suffered. The family in this case study are from Afghanistan. In a short period of time, Alia lost her father and her mother, following the trauma caused by her brothers' kidnapping in 2014. Alia’s father lost his business and turned to drugs then went on to murder his wife. He was found dead a few years later.

Although Alia was not forced into marriage after her mother’s death and fathers’ desertion, she felt she had no choice but to marry a man she was introduced to as she had no means to support herself. The domestic abuse started soon after and included verbal and physical abuse. A year into the marriage Alia and her husband came to the UK and stayed with her husband’s family. Alia was expected to look after everyone, do all the chores and obey the rules that were imposed on her. Her father-in-law was very controlling and demanded she wore a burka and no makeup. Whilst pregnant with her first child, she was beaten so badly she started to bleed. Alia was taken to a private hospital and told to tell them she had fallen.

The physical abuse increased, and one assault resulted in Alia’s hand being broken. On one occasion Alia fled to a female relative but was coerced into reconciling and the abuse worsened resulting in Alia living every moment of her life in fear. When she asked her extended family for support she was told 'she wasn’t a good enough wife’. Extended family members would come and take her children whenever they wanted sometimes for days at a time, and she could not stop them. 

Earlier this year whilst taking a driving lesson Alia disclosed to the driving instructor that a family member was sexually abusing her son, the driving instructor called the police, and as a result of their intervention the family were moved to refuge.

PRESENTING ISSUES

The perpetrator continues to make threats which are being passed to Alia by her family. This, combined with the significant trauma that Alia has suffered has led to issues around parenting, decision making and the very real concern of reconciliation. Alia’s case study is not an exception - we find similar cases of prolonged trauma in families that access our support. Interventions need to be in place for months to ensure that when our support ends, service users are able to sustain the change that has been made.

INTERVENTIONS SINCE ARRIVAL

Refuge IDVA completed a risk assessment, and the case was referred to
MARAC with a score of 15.
Work completed around staying safe online and changing mobile number.
Supported Registering with GP & Health Visitor, School nurse.
Parenting support put in place.
Staff empowered Alia to obtain orders
Supported with Claire’s Law disclosure application.
Supported accessing ESOL classes.
Staff registered the family for housing.
Mum attends monthly core groups and PLO meetings.

The Wish centre staff have supported Alia in reporting the ongoing abuse to police and have helped her gain legal advice due to PLO. She completed our AIM domestic abuse programme and support sessions. Alia's children are now settled into new schools and nurseries after The Wish Centre helped with admission forms. She has registered for a college course in hair and beauty and is looking to pass her driving test with ongoing lessons. After Alia and her family received emotional support in refuge and engaged in activities, crafts and coffee mornings, their confidence has grown in creating new friends. Linking in with community to provide fresh food boxes to assist with cost of living and joining local clubs and activities