A NEW directory to help people experiencing domestic violence has been launched. It is estimated that one in five women suffer from domestic violence and the directory will help organisations give the correct information to people needing help. Produced by the recently established Lancaster & District Domestic Violence Forum, the directory will also help women contact agencies while trying to protect themselves and their children.

It will be available to the general public at libraries, advice centres and doctors' surgeries throughout the Lancaster and Morecambe District. It will also be distributed widely to agencies, voluntary organisations and businesses.

Development Worker, Rosemary Watson, of Lancaster and District Women's Aid said "It is vital that organisations refer women safely and with sensitivity to where they can find the best help. It is also important for women to find out how they can help themselves, which is why we are making the directory available as widely as possible."

The directory gives information about what to do in an emergency, as well as about planning an escape or talking over the problems of living in a violent relationship. It supplies details of local and national helplines and covers problems of abuse of elderly people, abuse in same-sex relationships and violence from a known person in whatever circumstances.

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