Croydon unites to stop violence against women

A borough-wide promotion to tell domestic abuse victims where they can seek help against domestic abuse begins on Monday, to coincide with International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The date, Monday 25 November, marks the start of an annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

The council’s FJC team, which works to support people who are experiencing domestic abuse, will be using this period to engage with local partners to raise awareness of this crime, and the impact it can have.

They will also be taking part in national events to discuss the work going on in Croydon, and to reinforce the message that that ‘domestic abuse is everybody’s business’.

The team will be in Centrale Shopping Centre with staff from Croydon’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre on the 25th. The event, from 11am to 4pm, will be an opportunity for people to meet the services and to discuss their concerns.

Posters promoting where to get help against this crime will also be put up in the hallways of all council housing blocks.

A new partnership between the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and the FJC will also start during this period. DWP staff will be based at the FJC, giving monthly advice on debt, personal budgeting, housing support and benefits.

Family support organisation, Home Start Croydon, will also be receiving three-hours of training, so they can identify the signs of domestic abuse, and know where to refer people.

Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities

“Ending domestic and sexual violence is a priority for this Administration and a key part of our public health approach to preventing all forms of violence. We are using this 16-day period to raise awareness of the wide ranging ongoing work to help stop this crime so that more people know how to get the help and advice they need.”

The FJC team will be attending the multi-agency FGM conference at Jurys Inn. The event, planned in association with Croydon BME Forum, aims to raise practitioners’ awareness of female genital mutilation and how it impacts borough residents.

They will also be leading court training for district judges to help their understanding of domestic abuse.

GPs will also benefit as FJC staff will be discussing how the team can help Croydon practitioners’ at the doctors’ safeguarding forum.

Team representatives will attend the national South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust conference, and a London-wide MOPAC meeting, when all boroughs will discuss how to help stop violence against women and girls.

 

 

2019-11-20T17:25:28+00:00 November 20th, 2019|Recent news|