Staff from the domestic and financial abuse team at Lloyds Banking Group gave Natasha Asghar MS an insight into the remarkable and crucial work they do recently.
The 30-strong team, based in the banking group’s hub in Duffryn in Newport, support victims of domestic and financial abuse to help them regain control of their finances and rebuild their lives.
Natasha, who represents South East Wales in the Welsh Parliament, caught up with the team last week to find out more about their important work.
The service launched in 2019 with a team of five and has grown considerably with thousands of customers supported last year.
Staff are on hand to provide victims and survivors with advice on managing joint accounts, opening new accounts, and dealing with debts such as loans or mortgages.
The scale of domestic and financial abuse across the UK was explained to Natasha with 1-in-4 women and 1-in-6 men being subjected to abuse in their lifetime.
Abuse victims can speak to the dedicated team over the phone from Monday to Friday 8am until 6pm, by visiting a bank branch or by completing an online form which lets the team know when it is safe to call.
Following the visit, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“It was a real eye-opener to visit the domestic and financial abuse team at Lloyds Bank to see exactly what they do when it comes to supporting their customers.
“Economic abuse can lead to the victim staying with their abuser for longer and seriously hamper efforts to rebuild their lives, so it is good to know Lloyds’ dedicated team are on hand to help and provide essential support.
“I would encourage anyone suffering domestic and financial abuse to reach out to the friendly team at Lloyds if possible as they can truly make a difference, as I saw first-hand recently.”
Dr Rebecca Heaton, Lloyds Banking Group’s Director of Sustainability and Wales Ambassador, said:
“Devastatingly, one in four women and one in six men will be victims of domestic abuse in their lifetime. At Lloyds Banking Group we provide dedicated support during times of vulnerability.
“My colleagues in our specialist domestic abuse team, based in South Wales, were pleased to talk to Natasha Asghar MS about the ways we can help.”
Victims can call the team on 0800 0665703 or by visiting www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/supportandwellbeing/financial-abuse-support.
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Rhoddodd staff o'r tîm cam-drin domestig ac ariannol yng Ngrŵp Bancio Lloyds flas i Natasha Asghar AS o'r gwaith rhyfeddol a hanfodol y maen nhw’n ei wneud yn ddiweddar.
Mae'r tîm o 30 o bobl, sydd wedi'i leoli yng nghanolfan y grŵp bancio yn Dyffryn, Casnewydd, yn cefnogi dioddefwyr cam-drin domestig ac ariannol i'w helpu i adennill rheolaeth o'u cyllid ac ailadeiladu eu bywydau.
Bu Natasha, sy'n cynrychioli Dwyrain De Cymru yn y Senedd, yn cyfarfod â’r tîm yr wythnos diwethaf i glywed mwy am eu gwaith pwysig.
Lansiwyd y gwasanaeth yn 2019 gyda thîm o bump ac mae wedi tyfu'n sylweddol gyda miloedd o gwsmeriaid yn cael eu cefnogi’r llynedd.
Mae staff wrth law i roi cyngor i ddioddefwyr a goroeswyr ar reoli cydgyfrifon, agor cyfrifon newydd, a delio â dyledion fel benthyciadau neu forgeisi.
Esboniwyd graddfa y cam-drin domestig ac ariannol sy’n digwydd ledled y DU i Natasha – mae yna 1 o bob 4 menyw ac 1 o bob 6 dyn yn cael eu cam-drin yn ystod eu hoes.
Gall dioddefwyr camdriniaeth siarad â'r tîm penodedig dros y ffôn o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener rhwng 8am a 6pm, trwy ymweld â changen banc neu drwy lenwi ffurflen ar-lein sy'n rhoi gwybod i'r tîm pryd mae'n ddiogel ffonio.
Yn dilyn yr ymweliad, dywedodd Natasha Asghar AS:
"Roedd yn agoriad llygad go iawn i ymweld â'r tîm cam-drin domestig ac ariannol ym Manc Lloyds i weld yn union beth maen nhw'n ei wneud o ran cefnogi eu cwsmeriaid.
"Gall cam-drin economaidd arwain at ddioddefwyr yn aros gyda’u camdrinwyr am gyfnod hirach gyda hyn yn amharu’n ddifrifol ar unrhyw ymdrechion i ailadeiladu eu bywydau, felly mae'n dda gwybod bod tîm ymroddedig Lloyds wrth law i helpu a darparu cefnogaeth hanfodol.
"Byddwn yn annog unrhyw un sy'n dioddef cam-drin domestig ac ariannol i estyn allan i'r tîm cyfeillgar yn Lloyds os yn bosibl oherwydd fe allan nhw wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol, fel y gwelais â’m llygaid fy hun yn ddiweddar."
Meddai Dr Rebecca Heaton, Cyfarwyddwr Cynaliadwyedd a Llysgennad Cymru Grŵp Bancio Lloyds:
"Bydd un o bob pedair menyw ac un o bob chwe dyn yn dioddef cam-drin domestig yn ystod eu hoes. Yng Ngrŵp Bancio Lloyds rydyn ni’n darparu cefnogaeth bwrpasol yn ystod cyfnodau o fregusrwydd.
"Roedd fy nghydweithwyr yn ein tîm cam-drin domestig arbenigol, sydd wedi'i leoli yn Ne Cymru, yn falch o siarad â Natasha Asghar AS am y ffyrdd y gallwn ni helpu."
Gall dioddefwyr ffonio'r tîm ar 0800 0665703 neu ymweld â www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/supportandwellbeing/financial-abuse-support.
