Riverside, a leading provider of domestic abuse support services in Doncaster, is raising awareness for the international day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November.
Two women are killed every week in England and Wales by a current or former partner. It’s been estimated that one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Domestic violence has a higher rate of repeat victimisation than any other crime.*
Despite the fact police receive a domestic assistance call every minute in the UK, just 35% of domestic violence incidents are reported.
We offer a coordinated approach to supporting men, women and children affected by domestic abuse in Doncaster.
Importantly, this includes helping men understand how to develop stable relationships via the organisation’s ‘Healthy Relationships Training’ which is being trialled as part of its national Programme of Support. Through this, staff are skilled to provide training to young men who have been identified as needing support to help them stop their own abusive behaviour.
Andrea Parkinson, Team Leader for Riverside’s Victoria House, said: “Riverside’s domestic abuse support services are in consistent demand and we’ve had a sharp rise in the number of women who are victims of honour-based violence – in the last four months, six women have come forward, whereas it used to be just one every now and then. It shows that more women are coming forward and saying no, and accessing the support services we have in place. One of the biggest challenges as the statistics show, is for women to come forward.”
Our specialist domestic abuse support project, Victoria House in Doncaster, homes up to seven women and 15 children, and offers floating support services to 50 people in the town, alongside a bespoke refuge helpline.
We work with a number of partners, including the Foundation charity, which provides specialist domestic abuse and sexual violence advisory services, alongside the police, social care, domestic violence groups, health services and schools.
They also support clients and their partners through programmes to help them recognise abusive behaviour, understand how to keep themselves safe, carry out awareness training for children to help them identify signs of domestic abuse, and provide parenting programmes for men and women with children.
Jane*, 27, from Doncaster was hospitalised twice by her ex-partner. She is still receiving treatment for damaged eyesight after her head was stamped on seven times. She said: “I had facial bruising, I had a big cut under my left eye, bruising all over my body, bruising to my neck where he tried to strangle me, patches of hair that had been ripped out.”
She received help from Riverside’s Floating Support services, including referrals to counselling and assistance with practical day-to-day issues around tenancy and debt. Her ex-partner is now in prison for the assault, and Jane has since been recruited by Riverside as a GROW (Giving Real Opportunities for Work) Trainee.
She said: “Rather than falling into the background, I’ve stood up and took control of my life rather than it being controlled by somebody else. Riverside’s Floating Support services were extremely important to me.
“When you’re in that situation you’re blind sighted but they look at it from a different perspective and make it clear for you and plot out the path you need to follow in order to get your life back on track. They take a lot of weight off your shoulders. It’s helped me massively.”
Jane hopes to gain full time employment with Riverside once her ten month trainee contract ends: “I always said if I can help just one person, like I received help – that would make it all worthwhile.”
She said she felt it important to speak out and raise awareness of Riverside’s services. “I know it’s spoken about a lot more now but I still feel like it’s a bit of a taboo subject. I think it’s important women hear not just my story but other women’s stories – because that could be the trigger to think, I don’t need to put up with this anymore, I can walk away because there’s lots of support out there. You can get help to live a better life.”
She warned women to look out for tell-tale signs that can ‘creep up’, with controlling behaviour that isolates victims, such as curtailing contact with friends or relatives, or activity on social media such as Facebook.
Have you been affected by any of these issues?
Freephone: 0800 4701 505
Email: [email protected]
The helpline is manned Monday-Sunday 8.30am-10.30pm and is part of Doncaster Domestic Abuse Service, coordinated by Riverside. Calls are manned Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm then transferred for weekend and out-of-hours calls until 10.30pm. Emergency accommodation calls after 10.30pm are directed to the police.
*Name has been changed.