Work of domestic violence support services recognised

Inspired by the campaign 16 Days of Action, Associate Solicitor Sue Ellingham has been uncovering the work of support services in Devon.

The campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, seeks to raise awareness of Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse (DSVA).

Sue, who works for family law specialist The Family Law Company in Exeter was inspired to speak to eight Devon-based workers in DSVA support services to find out about their backgrounds and what their jobs entail. She is intending to release the resulting material as blogs during the 16 Days campaign period.

Sue said: “I thought it would be interesting to find out about the people behind the vital services provided in Devon to adults and children going through unimaginably difficult times.

“And even though I am a family lawyer, I have been amazed at the wide range of work undertaken. I’ve spoken to people in a variety of roles, from counsellors and mentors to Court Idvas - Independent Domestic Violence Advisors.”

Conducting the interviews opened Sue’s eyes to the range of work being undertaken and the many different programmes. She has spoken to those working with children and young people, learning about toolkits in development for schools and the police to use when children are affected by domestic violence. For SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone), Julie Lee is a Children and Young Persons Support Worker. Julie helps deliver the ‘Helping Hands’ programme developed to help children to learn about feeling safe, and the Domestic Abuse Recovering Together (DART) where mothers who have suffered domestic abuse work with their children to understand what has happened and resolve their relationship.

Another interviewee is Kris Knight, a mentor at North Devon Against Domestic Abuse (NDADA) who works in partnership with survivors of domestic abuse to recover from the negative impact of their experiences. It’s a holistic support service that has found Kris organising a paint party to decorate a new home for a lady with a disability and was isolated to paint her new home, walking on beaches with clients, putting together a comfort package for a client with insomnia and helped someone to dispose of their clutter when they were too anxious to go on their own.

Sue said: “The detail each interview goes into would make helpful reading for anyone who wants to know more about the services available for both adults and children who have suffered from any aspect of domestic violence and abuse.”

Some of the workers interviewed are volunteers themselves. Most services need volunteers to keep running, a situation highlighted by the 16 Days campaign, which includes fundraising activities such as a cream tea event being held by The Family Law Company at its Oriel office on December 6.

“Domestic violence is a very real issue in Devon. Helping those who have had their lives affected by it is woefully underfunded. Grants are shrinking so it is important that we support the services either by volunteering or fundraising,” Sue added.

16 Days is a global campaign that links the UN’s International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women and International Human Rights Day. It is supported in Devon by a number of action events, including a health and wellbeing day, reclaim the night event and a ‘find your funny’ workshop with Dr Maggie Irving.

To find out more visit the 16 Days of Action website. Sue’s blogs will be available to read on The Family Law Company website from November 26.