Domestic abuse is everybody’s business

Kent County Council (KCC) is supporting a new urgent campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and how to find help and support.

In response to unprecedented challenges faced by domestic abuse services during the Covid-19 pandemic, KCC commissioned the Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (KIDAS) partnership, which consists of Clarion Housing Group, Look Ahead, Oasis Domestic Abuse Service and Victim Support to create and launch Domestic Abuse: It’s Everybody’s Business, a suite of free virtual events aimed at businesses, community groups and individuals to educate, inform and inspire action across the county in a bid to ensure more victims are identified and can find safety quickly and easily.

Taking place from 25 November to 10 December 2020, the events will coincide with the UN 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign, and will enable attendees to know about, understand and act against this destructive social issue.

The pick and mix programme of 16 free online events can be accessed from anywhere, at times to suit varying schedules. From first introductions to professional development with CPD accreditation for social sector professionals, there is something for every knowledge level and expertise. Sessions are as short as 15 minutes and a maximum of 75 minutes.

Over 2 million people a year in England and Wales experience domestic abuse, with 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experiencing this during their lifetime. Two women a week are murdered by their current or ex-partner and one in seven (14.2%) children and young people under the age of 18 will have lived with domestic violence at some point. Domestic abuse also affects businesses, causing employees to take unplanned time off work and decreased productivity, costing UK businesses approximately £1.9bn a year.

Lockdown, social distancing and social restrictions heighten the risk for victims. Kent Police saw a 12% increase in Domestic Abuse related crime reports from March to July this year, compared to 2019 and the Kent domestic abuse services have seen an increase in accepted referrals. Victims’ lives depend on the ability to connect with routes to safety. As more and more people work from home, employers have an even greater duty to care for their staff, as abuse may be harder to identify than when employees were coming into an office or work environment, By everybody making it their business to know, see and speak out, more victims across Kent and Medway can find safety.

Clair Bell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health said:

“We have put support for victims who are suffering from domestic abuse front and centre of our Covid-19 response strategy. The Kent Integrated Domestic Abuse Service has been working tirelessly to support those affected by domestic abuse during the COVID pandemic, ensuring that services are available to those affected. They have brought together this important programme of free events to increase awareness of the experiences of those affected by the issue.

We are committed to the safeguarding of victims and ensuring that they have access to support and routes to safety, as well as continuous safety planning, in every district of the county. We work collectively with Kent Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, the NHS, GP surgeries, health centres, districts pharmacies and supermarkets across the area to ensure a coordinated and widespread support structure is available. This new virtual conference will make it easy for anyone and everyone to access information, learn about the strategy and what we can do to support services and work together to eradicate this terrible crime.”

KIDAS partners said:

“There’s never been a time when understanding, recognising and taking action against domestic abuse has been more needed, especially with a second national lockdown. Our services have all reacted swiftly to the crisis, transforming the way we work to support survivors remotely and rising to the challenge of being available to those who seek help, some for the first time, in the most challenging of circumstances.

As we all continue to face restrictions to our daily lives and feel the very real effects of the pandemic, home is a very dangerous place for those experiencing abuse and recognising signs something is wrong becomes harder. But it needs ALL of us to be knowledgeable, be vigilant and be willing to speak out and up for victims. It’s the only way we can reach those suffering in Kent and Medway.”

To make Domestic Abuse your Business, book today at: www.daeverybodysbusiness.org

For further information about Domestic Abuse: It’s Everybody’s Business and KIDAS and for interview availability: please contact Bryony Bishop [email protected] or KCC, Justine Wingate, [email protected]

Anyone experiencing abuse can still access the right services – lockdown rules do not apply if someone needs to leave their home to escape abuse. Refuge services continue to offer emergency space for victims and support is available.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, get help now:

www.domesticabuseservices.org.uk

For emergencies, call the police on 999 (if you can’t speak, cough or tap the handset then press 55 on your phone – the police will know it’s an emergency). In a non-emergency situation, you can call Kent police on 101.

For 24-hour support contact the National Domestic Abuse helpline on 0808 2000247.

For non-emergency support and safety planning call Kent & Medway Victim Support on 0808 16 89 111 / email [email protected] or use live chat bit.ly/VS-livechat if it is safe to do so.

#DAEverybodysBusiness #KnowSeeSpeakOut

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