How to Access EVA Services
You can access EVA project services by phone or you can ask someone to call on your behalf. If someone phones for you, we will only ask them for some basic information about you and your situation. We will then write to you to ask you to contact us with more information.
The first thing we will do is help you to work out what kind of service would be best for you. We will need to ask you some questions about what happened, when it happened, and how is affecting you just now. Usually, we will ask these questions the first time you phone the office. If there is no worker available who can go through these questions with you when you phone, we will phone you back as soon as possible. We will always ask if it is safe to phone you at home, and when the best time would be to talk to you.
Our first priority is to make sure that you are safe. If you are phoning us because your partner/ex-partner or another person is being violent or abusive towards you, one of our advocacy workers may be able to help you. They will ask you about what is happening and what you want to do about it, and explain what your options might be. They can give you information about your legal rights, for example what will happen if you report the abuse to the police, or how to get a solicitor. They can also help you to get in touch with the police, the housing department or another agency. If you have to go to the police station or attend an appointment somewhere else, and you are worried about going on your own, they may be able to go with you.
If you are phoning because something happened to you in the past, our counsellor or clinical psychologist may be able to help you. They will ask you about how you are feeling now and how you cope with your feelings. They will listen to you and help you to work out what you need to do to feel better.
Will you tell anyone what I tell you?
We will not tell anyone anything about you without your permission, except in the most exceptional circumstances. This would include situations where you tell us you are going to harm yourself or another person, or where you tell us something that suggests a child may be at risk.