She eventually left the relationship and attempted to re-build her life. After a short time she met her current partner with whom she now has a baby.

Jane doesn't consider her new relationship to be violent or abusive. Jane's health visitor, a member of the Melton Domestic Violence Forum, had recently received training from the Women's Aid Outreach Team on how to identify and deal with domestic violence.

The health visitor noticed Jane seemed to have lost touch with her friends and family and that although she was in receipt of the appropriate benefits she never seemed to have access to any money. This alerted her to the possibility she was being isolated and controlled by her partner.

After giving initial information and advice to Jane the health visitor gave her details of the local outreach service. Due to funding received from the Safer Community Partnership Jane was able to meet with an outreach worker that same week. She was able to meet at a nearby, safe location to discuss her concerns about the relationship.

The outreach worker was able to give support advice and information about what constitutes domestic violence and how best to keep her and her children safe from harm.

Jane was also able to access the Freedom Programme which empowered her to understand how and why abuse happens in relationships. She discovered that many aspects of her relationship that she had previously regarded as normal were in fact abusive.

She discovered that being shouted and sworn at and being constantly put down were also aspects of abuse. She also realised that being told what to wear and being made to feel guilty for telephoning her mum once a week were not aspects of a healthy relationship.

She started to think further about the impact of witnessing the abuse had on her two children and how they could be physically or emotionally hurt.

Jane noticed that the abuse was getting worse and that her partner was starting to treat her daughter in the same way, calling her abusive names and not allowing her friends to the house. She decided that she didn't want to continue in this relationship. Her outreach worker set up a joint meeting with Melton Council housing officer who was able to give advice and assistance with re-housing.

After she left, her ex-partner tried to imprison her in her home during contact time with the baby and assaulted Jane, pushing her to the ground. Outreach was able to support Jane in her dealings with the police and put her in touch with a specialist domestic abuse investigation officer who was able offer support with the legal process.

Outreach also assisted Jane by accompanying her on a visit to a solicitor to get a contact order in place.

Jane was supported for the next six months while she was re-housed and went through the court process. The outreach worker worked alongside Melton Council housing to ensure her new property was safe including providing window locks and a safety alarm.

Outreach was able to support Jane with the emotional effects of the abuse.