The South East Wales Racial Equality Council (SEWREC)

If you have experienced harassment or abuse one of the agencies listed below may be able to help you with information on your rights and how you can make a complaint. Some, like SEWREC, will even help you to make a complaint whether its against another member of the public, a service provider, your employer or even the police

You may also want to look at the Projects page for other forms of help.

In most cases clicking on the logo will take you to their web site.

SEWREC

SEWREC is the only organisation that offers FREE legal advice to people who believe that they have been abused, harassed or discriminated against because of who they are. Our principal focus is on Race (including nationality and immigration status), but we can also offer support for people who have experienced abuse, harassment or discrimination on the grounds of:

• Age, Disability
• Gender, Sexuality
• Race, Religion
• Language, Nationality

For more information contact Sally or Drazen on 01633 250 006 or email casework@sewrec.org.uk

Asylum Justice

Asylum Justice provides free legal advice to those asylum seekers who are not entitled to legal aid in relation to claims, fresh claims and appeals for asylum in ythe UK

Volunteers across South Wales provide surgeries in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea in conjuction with the Welsh Refugee Support Group, Swansea Bay Asylum Support Group and Newport & District Refugee Support Group.

For more information contact the Welsh Refugee Council on 01633 266420 or call into the Tuesday evening Drop-in at the Salvation Army's 'Bridge Centre' opposite the main Salvation Army Centre on Hill Street, Newport between 5 and 7 pm.

BAWSO - Women's Aid

Established in 1995, BAWSO is an all Wales, voluntary organisation, providing a specialist service to Black and Minority Ethnic women and children, made homeless by the domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence. It is affiliated to Welsh Women's Aid and works closely and in partnership with other women's aid organisations. Since opening its doors, BAWSO has supported hundreds of women and children to rebuild their lives away from fear and violence.

For more information please call 01633 213 213 or info@bawso.org.uk

Child Line

ChildLine is the UK's free, 24-hour helpline for children in distress or danger. Trained volunteer counsellors comfort, advise and protect children and young people who may feel they have nowhere else to turn.

Almost 1,400 volunteers provide a counselling service, supervised by a team of professional supervisors and managers. Every day around 4,500 children call ChildLine, but lack of funds means that only 2,500 of them will get through to our counsellors for comfort, advice and protection.

To speak to a adviser call 0800 11 11 - its FREE

Disability Advice Project

The Disability Advice Project provides free advice to disabled people, their families and carers. All their volunteers either have the experience of being a disabled person or of caring for a disabled person.

This innate knowledge combined with a continuous training programme has created a committed group of individuals with considerable expertise in all disability issues but particularly welfare rights and access issues.

For more information please call 01633 485 865, fax 01633 485 866 or email info@dap-wales.org.uk

Action on Elder Abuse

Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) works to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults. They were the first charity to address these problems and are the only charity in the UK and in Ireland working exclusively on the issue today. Elder abuse is defined as:

'A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person'.

Too often abuse has continued because people spotted something that felt wrong, but took no action as they doubted their own concerns. And sometimes the abuse has then continued for years longer.

For more information contact the help line on 0808 808 8141

Immigration Advisory Service

The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) is the UK’s largest charity providing representation and advice in immigration and asylum law. These services are free to people who are eligible, but they also offers a fee-paying (non-profit) service. IAS advice is provided confidentially.

The Cardiff office is able to provide the following services.

• Telephone advice offered every Tuesday and Friday between 10am - 12.30pm - call 029 2043 3983
• Casework and advocacy undertaken subject to LSC means & merits test - call 029 2049 6662

Stonewall

Stonewall Cymru aims to achieve legal equality and social justice for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Wales.

We aim to provide an all Wales organisation that will work individually and in partnership with agencies, organisations, statutory bodies and individuals inside and outside the LGB sector to:

• Promote the human rights and equal treatment of LGB people
• Challenge discrimination against LGB people
• Articulate the needs and interests of LGB people and represent these to the National Assembly for Wales and other appropriate bodies
• Consolidate and develop the infrastructure with LGB communities across Wales to enable them to contribute to and have representation in policy developments

For more information call 029 2023 7744 or email cymru@stonewallcymru.org.uk

Welsh Women's Aid

Domestic Abuse is the actual or threatened physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or financial abuse of a person by their partner, family member or someone with whom there is, or has been, a close relationship. Domestic Abuse also relates to allowing or causing a child to witness domestic abuse.

The Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline is a confidential, freephone support and information service for anyone experiencing domestic abuse or wanting more information on available support services. Open 24 hours. Click on the logo for more information.

For information and advice call 0808 80 10 800