We need to talk

Domestic abuse affects us all. It impacts the safety, wellbeing, health and prosperity of everyone. By breaking the silence we build awareness and strive to create a world without domestic abuse.

The problem we face is that due to stigma and fear people don’t like to speak up and talk about domestic abuse. People remain silent as they do not want to be involved, yet statistically 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. This means that someone you love, socialise with, or work with is a victim or a survivor.

Awareness

Raising awareness about the impact of domestic abuse is an integral part of what we do at Stop Domestic Abuse. We seek to break the silence by talking in the media, online, in our communities and with politicians and other influencers.

Over the past year, Stop Domestic Abuse and the work we do has been featured numerous times in newspaper articles and profiled on various radio shows.

In October 2019, The News, Portsmouth, ran a front page story on Stop Domestic Abuse’s provision of refuges.

In the same month, BBC South’s evening programme South Today interviewed a past client, an IDVA worker and our CEO Claire Lambon. The following month the same programme featured an interview with one of our Ask Me ambassadors as part of a campaign by Thames Valley Police to target coercive control.

Express FM conducted interviews with Claire and a service manager regarding domestic abuse. One was aired on the evening show for an hour. The News, Portsmouth, published an article in November featuring Stop Domestic Abuse and the work we have done raising awareness for White Ribbon Day, a global movement working to end male violence against women and girls.

Over Christmas, The News featured Stop Domestic Abuse again. It published articles regarding ambassador training, Christmas donations, and Stop Domestic Abuse’s involvement in the Comfort and Joy Campaign. The Hayling Herald likewise published an article featuring Christmas donations.

Clockwise from above: Claire Lambon being filmed for BBC South Today, Claire Lambon and Czarina Jacobs with Express FM presenter Miles Henson, Alan Mak MP for Havant visiting our offices.

Ask Me Ambassadors

Ask Me trains local community members to become Ask Me Ambassadors who break the silence about domestic abuse. In 2019 and 2020 we trained 41 people who speak to friends, colleagues and neighbours about domestic abuse. They signpost people to Stop Domestic Abuse’s services, challenge misconceptions and help to remove the stigma by talking about domestic abuse. This included 14 people who had never spoken about their experience of domestic abuse before and were signposted to support.

COViD-19 and awareness

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, media attention has turned to domestic abuse and has regularly featured the impacts of ‘lockdown’ on domestic abuse. News sources reported that within the first three weeks of ‘lockdown’ there were 16 domestic abuse related homicides, more than double the average of two per week. It is essential that we consider the long-term impact on those who have experienced domestic abuse and been locked down with their perpetrator throughout the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, it is necessary to consider the longerterm impact on domestic abuse services as they work to meet increased levels of demand.

keep the conversation going

When the COVID-19 related ‘lockdown’ began, the impact of the pandemic on domestic abuse was heavily featured in local and national newspapers. Claire was interviewed on ITV Meridian’s evening show, Express FM’s radio show, Radio Solent and Action Hampshire’s Facebook page.

These interviews discussed the impact of ‘lockdown’ on people experiencing domestic abuse and the impact the pandemic has had on the provision of Stop Domestic Abuse’s Services. The News published several articles regarding domestic abuse and directly quoted Claire. The Hayling Herald and the Bournemouth Echo also featured Stop Domestic Abuse in relation to the consequences of COVID-19 for those experiencing domestic abuse.

While this attention has succeeded in raising a certain amount of awareness and has helped break the silence, the challenge remains. We must keep the conversation going. Domestic abuse is not going to end when the COVID-19 crisis ends. We must ensure that this rise in awareness is sustained and that the conversation is continued. It will be the longer-term solutions and ongoing conversations that will help in the long term to break the cycle and Stop Domestic Abuse.

Support from MPs

Throughout the year we have been in frequent contact with local councillors and MPs. Claire has lobbied all MPs representing constituencies where we provide services, regarding the Domestic Abuse Bill, refuge provision and funding. Letters have been sent to all MPs where our services are provided in Hampshire and Portsmouth, and Southampton urging them to influence amendments to The Domestic Abuse Bill.

Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, who has been a consistent and invaluable support to our organisation, mentioned Stop Domestic Abuse in a parliamentary debate regarding the Domestic Abuse Bill.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Claire has kept MPs up-to-date on all funding received and our service adaptations and provisions. Concern has been expressed over the short-term nature of this funding.

We have an ever-growing presence on social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Social media allows us to reach our clients and also connect with our supporters. Join the conversation today and follow us.

@southerndas