Planning to leave

If you think you may want to leave or want to make preparations just in case, the following may be helpful:

Try to save some money for taxi or bus fares;
Keep together the things that you may need, eg keys, benefit books, medical cards, passport, marriage certificate, address book;
If you leave, try and take all your children with you, if you can;
Try to take all essential medicines for you and your children;
Take enough clothes and a few of the children’s favourite possessions;
Leave only when it is safe to do so. The help-line can help you plan your leaving.
Make sure you know where you are going to go - know what agencies you can go to and whether they are open. If you are going to friends or family make sure they are supportive of your leaving. If you take the car to leave make sure it is your car or it may be used to track you. Contact the police and let you know that you are leaving so that the abuser doesn't use them to help track you down.

05/12/2005 Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum