Abuse within a family

MS is a 17-year-old Somali mother from Birmingham. She came to this country along with her brother and grandmother in order to join her father with a Family Reunion Visa.

After she came into this county, she found out that she was pregnant with her daughter. Her father did not approve and started abusing her physically, mentally, and financially. After giving birth to her daughter, the medical staff decided started to get concerned about the abuse and decided to get in touch with Social Services in Birmingham. As a result, Birmingham Social Services referred her on to BAWSO due to the specialist service provided with regards to Domestic Abuse and Black and Minority Ethnic community's support. BAWSO were contacted in order to support MS for a temporary period of 2 weeks.

MS arrived at BAWSO's refuge with a 3-week-old baby, few clothes, and no documents whatsoever. She required a lot of support in order to carry out her daily duties and care for her baby. BAWSO worked in partnership with a lot of professionals in order to support the client. She was taught how to sterilize baby's equipment, bathing, feeding, and changing nappies for her baby, as well as various life skills such as cooking and budgeting. MS did not speak English and required language support when communicating with workers, doctors, and social workers. BAWSO had to rely on the Language Support Project provided by BAWSO. In addition, MS was encouraged to join Basic English and IT training at BAWSO.

However, Birmingham Social Services were unable to allocate a specialist organisation that would cater for MS's needs. Therefore, BAWSO carried on supporting MS for a couple of months. During this period, BAWSO got in touch with Immigration Solicitors in order to seek advice regarding MS's status in the country in order to enable her to access benefits. In June 2006, MS's Social Worker informed BAWSO that she has managed to find a mother and baby hostel for MS. Following a visit to the hostel in Birmingham, MS refused to move into the hostel. She said that she was not happy with the fact that there were no interpreters available on a regular basis, as well as the fact that men were allowed into the building, which did not agree with her cultural and religious needs. MS informed Birmingham Social Services that she does not wish to leave BAWSO and that she decided to settle down in Wales.

As a result, Birmingham Social Services stopped paying BAWSO for MS and her baby's living and accommodation expenses. The case was referred to the local Social workers who informed BAWSO that they were uncertain whether they have to support MS financially as well. Nonetheless, Social Services finally agreed to fund the client for a period of 6 weeks; and then a further 2 weeks.

During this period, BAWSO supported MS in order to make an application for Housing, Income Support and Child Benefit. Unfortunately, all the claims were not processed because MS did not have any identification documents or proof of recourse to public funds. Therefore, BAWSO got in touch with the Police at MS's old address and arranged for Police Escort for the client to retrieve her identification documents from her father's home.

As a result of the above action, MS was able to get her Income Support approved. BAWSO are still supporting MS in order to gradually re-build her life and access benefits and training.