Domestic Abuse is “Everyone’s Business” – The Charity-initiative movement making domestic abuse an issue for all as abuse rises in lockdown
A new domestic abuse advice line by crisis support charity Hestia is introduced to businesses as abuse heightens during lockdown.
Hestia, a domestic abuse charity in London for 50 years that has supported women and children in crisis, have launched a new initiative that is helping to tackle employee disclosures confiding being a victim of domestic abuse.
With the unprecedented times we currently face in light of Covid-19, domestic abuse is urgently in need of strong community forefront measures as victim’s safety continues to be compromised in lockdown. As more people are adapting to remote home-working encouraged to save lives, home is not always safe for everyone with cases of domestic abuse on the rise.
Domestic abuse is prevalent now today with 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experiencing at some point in their lifetime of which 10 per cent of victims reporting at work.
It is everyone’s duty of care to step up and take action against domestic abuse as when employers do this it potentially saves victims’ lives.
Employers have an important role to play in supporting their employees, particularly this year and during the pandemic.
Hestia’s Everyone’s Business helpline is a resource open to businesses and employers to effectively respond to reports of domestic abuse enclosed by an employee. It is giving a lifeline for employers to intervene with abuse through specialist advice they can receive from the service.
Head of Everyone’s Business advice line at Hestia, Lyndsey Dearlove states
“By providing a free advice line that offers guidance, employers will be able to help their employees and direct them to practical support. When employers take action and respond to domestic abuse, we know it saves lives”.
While there are around 2.4 million people to go through domestic abuse every year, it can also remain increasingly difficult to notice tell-tale signs that are to be recognised by an employer under some circumstances. The Everyone’s Business line is set to spread awareness and provide assistance in the workplace having worked with over 70 organisations including Metropolitan Police.
“For too long domestic abuse has been nobody’s business and it is time it becomes everyone’s business,” says Lyndsey.
Abuse in Lockdown
Hestia’s domestic abuse support services which offer a range of information and support to those experiencing abuse have seen an increase of almost 50 per cent in victims reaching out in attempt to accessing help.
Lockdown has had a severe effect on those experiencing domestic abuse exposing alarming rates in people trying to access our domestic abuse services, up by 38 per cent.
Over 3,000 women and 100 young children are now living in our refuges since lockdown giving them a chance to recover from their trauma.
Due to the growing demand for our service, we partnered with the local and national government, opening two new emergency refuges to accommodate vulnerable mums and their kids during this time.
Top Tips:
- If you are experiencing domestic abuse please contact the National Domestic Abuse free helpline and if you are immediately in danger, please always call 999.
- Speak to someone you trust, such as a friend or family member if you are being abused
- Remember you are not alone and there is someone who cares about you and your situation
- You don’t have to wait to leave and you can always find help available
- You can survive abuse and go on to live a #lifebeyondcrisis
Hestia is still are here to give you support. Their services such as UKSAYSNOMORE Safe spaces, emergency refuge accommodation for women and children fleeing abuse, and the free domestic abuse app Bright Sky and now website, have still been made available for victims outreach.
Safe spaces are operating across local and independent UK pharmacies such as Boots, Superdrug, and Morrisons together as part of a national campaign to end domestic abuse.
They are facilitating opportunities within a confined professional environment to phone a helpline, contact a support service, or talk to a friend or family member inside consultancy rooms nationwide across the UK.
Hestia is still taking on referrals into our domestic abuse refuges where families can start their journey to recovery from trauma caused by abuse. Alongside the Employer’s helpline ‘Everyone’s Business’ service now running as a benchmark action for added resources in place for businesses. To contact the Everyone’s Business advice line call on 07770480437 or 02038793695. Email at Adviceline.EB@hestia.org open Monday to Friday 9 am-5 pm for support. For more information visit the website.
Donate to our Winter Appeal and help support our emergency domestic abuse refuge to stay open. Cluck here for more information.
