I lived eleven years in fear.
Otilia Andreea Mutu,
Founder, Lotus Justice & Support Centre CIC
Meet Otilia Andreea Mutu
I am a Romanian woman of Roma heritage, based in the United Kingdom, and the life I live today looks nothing like the one I left behind.
Between the ages of 18 and 29, I lived in relationships marked by domestic violence. Eleven years during which I forgot who I was.
Today I am an entrepreneur, an affiliate member paralegal, IDVA, an author, and above all a public voice for the women who cannot yet speak for themselves.
I initiated Lotus Justice & Support Centre project because in my own time of need, no one around me knew how to help.
Because I spent years searching for my voice, and other women no longer have those years to spare.
I do this for my children, who deserve to grow up alongside the example of a woman who no longer stays silent. I do this for the mother, sister, friend or colleague of every woman who is listening.
And I do it for Romania and for the Roma community, because we too deserve to be recognised for professionalism, courage and contribution.
If you have read this far, welcome.
You are not alone.
About Lotus Justice & Support Centre CIC
Who we are
Lotus Justice & Support Centre CIC is the first Romanian led organisation in the UK dedicated to supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse. We are here first and foremost for the Romanian community in the UK, but we help anyone who needs us, whatever their background or nationality.
We work with people across the whole country and we are listed in the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline directory.
Why we exist
When you go through abuse in a foreign country, you can feel alone twice over. You do not know the system, sometimes you do not speak the language, and very often you do not know that you have rights and that help exists. Many victims in migrant communities fall through the cracks of mainstream services, precisely because no one speaks their language or understands their cultural context.
Lotus was created to fill exactly this gap. We want no one to be left without help simply because they do not know where to turn or what language to ask for support in.
How we help
We listen. We have a free helpline and you can call us, in Romanian or in Romani, free from any phone in the UK. Confidential, and without judgement.
We support you one to one. Our founder, Otilia Mutu, is a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA). This means we work to recognised professional standards: we assess risk, we help you understand your rights and options, and we stand beside you in dealing with the police, the courts and family proceedings.
We connect you to the right people. Through our network, we can link you with immigration, family law, criminal law and personal injury solicitors, as well as psychologists, social workers, health visitors, mediators, and benefits and welfare advice.
We speak your language. We offer support in Romanian, English, Romani, Greek and French, and where another language is needed, we can arrange translation. No one is turned away because of the language they speak.
What we are working towards
We are not stopping here. We are developing new areas of work, including a programme that works with perpetrators to help them change their behaviour and reduce the risk to victims, and a CPD accredited course that helps professionals understand the Romanian cultural context and how to better support survivors from this community.
You are not alone
If you, or someone you love, is going through abuse, we want you to know one thing: help is closer than you think, and it is in your language.
Lotus free helpline: 0800 098 2730
Email: contact@lotusjusticesupport.uk
Website: lotusjusticeapp.co.uk
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Email: contact@lotusjusticesupport.uk