A letter received by Men’s Aid from a service user.
I am not sure if you get feedback on your service or if you ever know how things go in the end for those you help, but I feel that it is vitally important that you should see there can be an end and it can be positive.
I went to court with the possibility there would be a safety order or a barring order against my name was in play. In fact, my solicitor told me going in that the courts usually err on the side of caution and give a safety order regardless. Thank god this did not happen and the case was dismissed and my ex-partner was told off by the court.
It is bitter sweet however, as I am now in debt for thousands, still only have a couple of days with my child and my ex-partner still has my family home.
Still I have my good name which means so much to me. To be branded as a child abuser and an abuser of women would have been much worse for me than all the financial hardship in the world.
I just want to say thank you.
For years your service has kept me going and I can say without drama that on one particular night your service may well have saved my life. For the first time in years, I see a very bright chink of light in the future. That is in no small part down to you and your service.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.