Support from Athena over Christmas - Lewisham Children & Family Centre

Christmas can be a difficult time for families but if you and your children are not safe this Christmas there is help available here in Lewisham.

Athena can help; Women and girls aged over 13, Men aged 16 or older and anyone who identifies as Transgender and identifies as male, female, as another gender, or is questioning their gender identity.

They can help you:

Talk to someone who understands what you are going through
Receive support with contacting the police
Move away from the area
Access a refuge
Stay at home, but want to find out how you can keep safe
Receive support if you are considering going to court
Access legal advice
Manage your financial situation
Find out about support networks in your community
Get specialist support for your children

If you’re in Lewisham, call the Athena Service on 0800 112 4052 or email lewishamvawg@refuge.org.uk

If you are worried about a friend or family member

It’s not always easy to know how to support a friend or loved one who is experiencing domestic violence or other forms of violence. But you can make a difference. You can learn how to recognise the signs of abuse and find out how to support them. The safety of your friend or loved one – and their children – is paramount. Talk to them about how they can stay safe. You could:

Agree a code word so they can signal when she is in danger and needs you to get help
Find out about services which could support them locally
Offer to keep a spare set of keys for them or important documents, such as passports, bank account details and benefit information so that they can access them quickly in an emergency
Keep a log of the abusive incidents; encourage them to visit the GP and keep copies of emails and texts
Encourage them to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline to discuss safety planning

Remember, in an emergency and if you fear for your friend’s safety, always call 999.

“My child and I have really enjoyed coming to Little Explorers. It has helped my child to get used to see other babies and have interaction with them, which has been really important for him after the pandemic.”

“It's absolutely fab to be able to have access to all of the Domestic Abuse services in one place and to just click on a link to get to the website.”

“The Children Centre is our favourite place to come, we have been coming here since my child was 6 months old, he is now 4 years old and is still enjoying! Well done staff”

“I have just found the ‘taking care of ourselves’ section, which is massively important for us all, especially compassion fatigue.”

“The help and support that my family support worker gave me was above and beyond, she was always there to listen to me and make me feel like I was good enough and I was being heard.”

“The Outreach Team have such outgoing, friendly and fun personalities and made each Outdoor Learning session a great experience.”

“The Explorers session has helped my child a lot with his communication and his development. It’s really been impactful for him; we are really grateful to have this opportunity to attend the session and meet other parents as well.”

“The sessions help my daughter with speaking English, as well as helping her to listen and follow directions. I am very happy, my baby is very happy, and I feel relief when I come.”

“The Children Centre is very beneficial for my child, she has developed lots of skills e.g., sharing toys and naming colours. Also, the staff are very friendly and helpful.”

Welcome to the Lewisham Children and Family Centre Website