A guide to help women cope with financial abuse

Nicola Sharp, head of policy at Refuge, said: 'Money is a worry for many of us in the current economic climate, but for women experiencing economic abuse, their financial situation can seem hopelessly bleak.

'If an abused woman has no money of her own, has massive debts which her partner has run up in her name and has never been allowed by her partner to practice the money-management skills most of us take for granted, starting out on her own can be a terrifying prospect.

'Women coming to Refuge often flee with no more than the clothes they are wearing and effectively have to start over from scratch.

'But those are only the ones that we have been able to reach. What about all the rest? We hope this guide will help women to understand their rights and give them the confidence to reach out and get help.'

Charlotte (not her real name), a survivor of domestic violence, told Refuge: 'I lived with economic abuse for years. My ex didn't need to hit me to control me. He simply took all my money and then made me ask him for every penny I ever needed.

'He'd regularly deny me money for basic purchases such as deodorant or milk and nappies for our daughter.

'He was cunning too. Unbeknown to me he put all the bills, credit cards and any big purchases we'd made in my name so when I finally found the courage to leave him I was saddled with a whole host of debts and commitments I'd never signed up to.

'I live in fear, even to this day, of getting yet another demand for money owed for something I have no clue about.

'Thanks to the team at Refuge I've been working to sort out the debts and start my financial planning from scratch. It's a huge, daunting task but I'm getting there and feel liberated by being allowed to do the simple things myself.'

To support its financial abuse work Refuge is launching a support tool for women who are currently experiencing domestic violence or who may be trying to set up a new financial life after abuse.

'You can afford to leave' has been funded by HBOS Foundation and can be accessed via Refuge's website: www.refuge.org.uk

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