Caithness & Sutherland Women's Aid

Welcome to Caithness & Sutherland Women’s Aid

Is someone: Threatening you? Intimidating you? Isolating you from family and friends? Hitting you or

your children? Forcing you to have sex? Controlling you? Keeping money back from you?

A woman is abused if she is in any way ill-treated or frightened by her

partner or ex-partner, or anyone else she lives with or is close to. The

abuse may be physical, emotional, financial or sexual. Often a woman

will experience a combination of all of these. The abuse may be

constant over a long period of time or it may be short lived. .

Domestic Abuse usually takes place in the family home, and can happen

to anyone regardless of their age, gender, culture, race or sexuality.

The main question to ask yourself is “are you afraid of your partner/ex-partner?”. FEAR is the main way

an abusive partner will CONTROL you and continue with their abuse unchecked.

At CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND WOMEN’S AID we provide free and

confidential support to women, children and young people who are, or have

been, affected by domestic abuse.

Whatever the situation, if you approach us about abuse, we will believe and

support you.

FACT: At least a fifth to a quarter of all women in Scotland will

experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives.

FACT: Domestic Abuse essentially involves the misuse of power and

exercise of control by one person over another with whom there is or has

been a close relationship.

FACT: Domestic abuse happens in all cultures, people of all races,

ethnicities, religions, ages and backgrounds.

FACT: The abuse is not the fault of you or your children.

FACT: 97% of Domestic Abuse victims are women. It is estimated that women will be abused 35

times before seeking help.

FACT: Research has shown that 90% of children/young people are in the same or next room during

domestic abuse incidents, and that 40-60% of children/young people are also physically assaulted by the

perpetrator.