Bognor Regis drop-in centre for women given new home

The location for the weekly service has moved to The Family Centre at 29 Richmond Avenue and operates from 11.30am to 12.30pm on Mondays.

Another drop-in service is held at the Wickbourne Centre in Clun Road, Littlehampton.

The service is run by the Worthing Women's Aid charity. Its project manager, Andrea Lloyd, said she expected at least two new women a week to continue to benefit from the Bognor service.

"We have been running in Bognor for at least four years," she said. "In that time, we have helped hundreds of women.

"I'm not surprised by that number because our helpline receives five to six calls a day with inquiries."

Visitors to the drop-in centre can gain help finding a solicitor, filling in housing-benefit forms, property for rent and counselling for

themselves and their children.

"We act as a signpost and information service," said Andrea. "Once a woman has come to us, she will go on our floating support system where someone trained to deal with those who have suffered from domestic violence will go out and have a one-to-one session with them and support them with what they are going through."

The drop-in centre is one of several services available to women and men in the Bognor area who suffer at the hands of abusive partners.

"There's plenty of help around," Andrea said. "It is sometimes not what women want.

"They don't want to go to court or change their lifestyle and leave their partner. Some women don't want that but there is help if

they do."

Richard Bartram, Arun District Council's community safety officer, said domestic violence was one of the priorities of the Arun crime and disorder reduction partnership which brought various agencies together.

A domestic violence forum was well-established to ensure focus on the crime continued.

"Helping those who suffer from domestic violence is one of our priorities," he said.

"We want to make people aware of what help is available. Women suffer a lot before they report domestic violence. Many of them feel isolated and we need to get the message out that help is available."