Button labelled 'Donate' – links to the donation page to support mums facing post-separation abuse

Common Questions

Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Questions About Mums In Need Support

"Photo of a one-to-one casework session, with text overlay reading ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

What type of support can I access?

Support advice 1:1 caseworker sessions
Practical support via peer support groups.
Coffee mornings.
Signposting.
Financial support via workshops.
Legal support and education.
Counselling services.

Emotional wellbeing sessions
Peer Support sessions.
Art therapy sessions.
Therapeutic horticultural sessions.
Days out to be enjoyed with children.

Is there a cost?

To access our support, we ask for a monthly donation of £5 where financially possible.

This is a voluntary donation, and is not essential to receive support.

How do I contact you?

You can phone us on our FREE phone number 0800 852 7414

or email us enquiries@mumsinneed.com

If you would like to contact a certain member of the team, you can find individual contact details on 'Our Team' page.

How do I access support?

Please note: our waiting list is currently closed. We are currently at full capacity, so we have taken the decision to temporarily close our waiting list. In addition to updating our website, we will let you know when the waiting list re-opens via our newsletter, and social media.

When our waiting list is open

You will need to complete a Waiting List Triage Form. This form allows us to collect your contact details and gather the information we need about you. The link to the form will be available on the homepage of our website, as well as on our social media channels. If you are unable to find it, please contact enquiries@mumsinneed.com.

Once we have received your Waiting List Triage Form, we’ll add you to our waiting list, provided you meet our criteria. You will then receive an email confirming your place on the waiting list. We’ll contact you again via email when you reach the top of the list and a space becomes available.

Mums In Need ensure that the data that we acquire about you, remains confidential. Click here to read our Privacy Statement.

Who can refer to Mums In Need?

Self Referral: The only way to enrol onto our service is to self refer. See below how to start your referral.

**Please note that we no longer accept referrals via external agencies.**If your client is still looking for support when our waiting list reopens, they are welcome to contact us directly and self-refer.

Do you support men?

MIN supports local mums in Sheffield and the surrounding areas who have left abusive relationships. Unfortunately, this means we are not the right organisation to provide support to men.

Instead, you may wish to reach out to ManKind, Respect, DAVE or Phoenix which are organisations that help male survivors of domestic abuse. You may also wish to look up author Jared Whitaker, who writes about male victims of domestic abuse and narcissism.

How quickly will you contact me after I’ve got in touch?

We are a small organisation, with increasingly high demand. After contacting us, you will be placed onto our waiting list. As soon as you are at the top of the list, we will send you a pre-screening consultation form which we will ask you to complete.

What is emotional abuse?

Please see the 'What is Coercive Control' on our website.

I’m still with my abusive partner, can I still get support?

Unfortunately, we only offer support to mothers who are no longer in a relationship with their abusive partner.

I’ve left an emotionally abusive relationship but don’t have children. Am I eligible for support from you?

We only offer support to mothers who have left emotionally abusive relationships. However, there are other charities which you can go to for help. If you are based in Sheffield, you can contact DACT (Sheffield Domestic Abuse Co-Ordination Team)

What sessions can I attend?

You are welcome to attend any sessions you feel may be of benefit to you.

Could you represent me in court?

We are not solicitors and we will not speak for you in court. We do however, offer legal support in partnership with several solicitors who are sensitive and knowledgeable about abusive relationships.

Does your legal support include support for divorce or financial settlements?

Unfortunately not. The legal support that we offer is for the family court process.

What is child maintenance and does my partner need to pay it?

Child maintenance is regular financial support towards the cost of raising your child from your ex-partner. It also helps keep both parents involved in their children’s lives. You can arrange the child maintenance agreement between yourselves or, if you can’t agree, you can try mediation or ask the Child Maintenance Service (formerly the Child Support Agency or CSA), or the courts to get involved. To learn more about child maintenance click here: https://www.gov.uk/making-child-maintenance-arrangement

Is a family-based arrangement right for me?

You arrange the child maintenance agreement between yourself and your ex-partner. This would mean having to have some form of communication with your ex-partner. To learn more about family-based arrangements click here: https://www.gov.uk/making-child-maintenance-arrangement/arrange-child-maintenance-yourself

Is a statutory arrangement right for me?

If there’s a breakdown in communications with your ex-partner – or worse – the Child Maintenance Service will work out the child maintenance amount and, if necessary, collect it and pass it on. To learn more about statutory arrangements click here: https://www.gov.uk/making-child-maintenance-arrangement/using-child-maintenance-service

Do you have a charity shop?

Unfortunately not. We used to have one, but due to lack of space and resources it is no longer feasible.

Do you take physical donations?

Unfortunately we don't. We no longer have a charity shop so we are not in a position to accept donations at this time.

However, you may want to email Ashiana Women's Refuge or call Sheffield Women's Aid on 0114 236 6423 to see if they are able to receive donations.

If you would still like to make a donation to MIN, we are always in need of cash donations and would be extremely grateful.

How can I make a cash donation?

Mums In Need are grateful for all of the donations that we receive. We have loads of ways for you to donate.

Go to our 'Donate' page to find out more.

Do you have paid staff?

Mums In Need have recently been in a fortunate position to recruit some more paid staff. We currently have one part time CEO, and 7 part time staff. Find out more about our team here.

Do you have volunteers working with you?

Mums In Need relies heavily on the help of volunteers. Without their support, we would not be able to keep supporting our mums.

We are very privileged to have a team of volunteers working directly with us on a long term basis. Each year we also have volunteers who are with us temporarily on student placements.

We also have support from volunteers from the Lived Experience Leadership programme, who help us with our social media.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Mums In Need, please contact enquiries@mumsinneed.com to find out if we have any upcoming roles.