HBBC makes a stand against domestic abuse

The Borough Council has signed up to a new national campaign to confirm its commitment to tackling domestic abuse in communities across Hinckley and Bosworth.

The Make a Stand campaign centres around a pledge which has been developed by the Chartered Institute of Housing in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA).

The campaign consists of four commitments to support people who are experiencing domestic abuse. The four commitments are:

• To put in place and embed a policy to support residents who are experiencing domestic abuse
• To make information about national and local domestic abuse support services available on your website and in other places which are easily accessible to residents and staff
• To put in place a HR policy and procedure on domestic abuse, or to incorporate this into an existing policy, to support members of staff who are experiencing domestic abuse
• Appoint a champion in your organisation to own the activity you are doing to support people experiencing domestic abuse. 

Around one in four women and one in five men are affected by domestic abuse in the UK every year. Locally the council supports more than 100 people in the Hinckley and Bosworth area every year and employs a dedicated Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker to offer impartial advice, counselling and practical help with finding somewhere safe to live, emotional support, getting legal advice, applying for benefits and whatever else is needed.

Councillor Mike Hall, Leader of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety said:

As a council we have always shown a strong commitment to tackling domestic abuse in our local community. We have our own domestic abuse outreach service to support victims of domestic abuse and we do therapeutic work with children who have been affected by domestic abuse to improve their health and well-being. We have local policies in place for staff and are extremely proactive in raising awareness of domestic abuse and getting information out to the community on how to access the help available. We have signed this pledge to show our ongoing commitment to tackling domestic abuse in our local community.

 Around one in four women and one in five men are affected by domestic abuse in the UK every year. Locally the council supports more than 100 people in the Hinckley and Bosworth area every year and employs a dedicated Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker to offer impartial advice, counselling and practical help with finding somewhere safe to live, emotional support, getting legal advice, applying for benefits and whatever else is needed.

Rebecca*, one of the people who experienced support from the council and partner agencies for herself when she needed it last year is thankful for the way that support has helped her to move on with her life.  She said:

They were amazing. They kept in regular contact, helping me find somewhere safe to live and helping to get my new home ready for me. I made some new friends at the counselling sessions and everyone was so helpful and really understanding. Now I feel stacks better in every way and I just feel relieved more than anything that I’m out of the situation and in my own home doing what I want when I want and just being free and not controlled by someone else.

Rebecca has a powerful message for anyone living with an abusive partner who is thinking about contacting the service. “Don’t hesitate, they will give you all of the advice and support you need. They can get you out of a situation and into safety really quickly.”

For confidential help and advice on domestic abuse in the Hinckley and Bosworth area please contact the Domestic Abuse Outreach Worker on 07966 202181 or 01455 255746

More information about the Make a Stand campaign (cih.org)

*Rebecca’s name has been changed.