Domestic Abuse Newsletter
Is someone you know experiencing domestic abuse?
When someone is experiencing domestic abuse, it may take the person a long time before they will talk about what they are experiencing. There is an information leaflet available for friends, family and work colleagues who are worried about someone they know suffering from domestic abuse. The leaflet provides information on how to support victims of domestic abuse and the services available to safeguard them.
Domestic abuse support
If you, or people you know, are experiencing domestic abuse and need support, contact Black Country Women's Aid which provides a range of services and support to anyone experiencing domestic abuse. You can contact them 24 hours a day on 0121 552 6448. You can also contact them via webchat on the Black Country Women's Aid website and WhatsApp on 07384 466181.
Alternatively, there is a service for men and boys who have experienced domestic abuse, rape and sexual abuse. Contact Ask Marc by phone on 0121 289 6402, email info@askmarc.org.uk or visit the Ask Marc website for more information.
Birmingham LGBT Centre can also provide a range of support services.
Domestic homicide – help, advice and support for families
Domestic Homicide: Our Story is a downloadable booklet that offers guidance for professionals and carers supporting children and young people who have lost a parent or family member due to domestic homicide.
‘Aaron’s Story' is an animated video of a young person’s experience of losing a loved one to domestic homicide.
Search the domestic homicide review library
Domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) were established on a statutory basis under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act which came into force in 2004. The key purpose for undertaking DHRs is to enable lessons to be learned from homicides where a person is killed because of domestic violence and abuse.
For these lessons to be learned as widely and thoroughly as possible, professionals need to be able to understand fully what happened in each homicide and, most importantly, what needs to change to reduce the risk of such tragedies happening in the future.
Use this service to find and view domestic homicide review documents that are available to the public. Search the domestic homicide review library.
Domestic abuse victims receive financial support
A Government-backed Bill ensuring victims of domestic abuse can receive financial support for their children without contact from their abuser was approved by Parliament on 16 June. The new law will allow the Child Maintenance Service to intervene on behalf of parents to collect and make payments.
The Government website has more information on financial support for domestic abuse victims.
Economic and domestic abuse
Companies are working to support vulnerable customers including offering a ‘safe space’ for people experiencing domestic abuse and a range of support options to help them, for example by establishing independence and ‘anonymity’ when people are in complex abusive relationships and have managed to flee their circumstances.
Information on around surviving economic abuse and the Employers' Initiative.
Safer 6 campaign
Sandwell’s Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership took part in Safer 6, the Safer Sandwell Partnership campaign held from 25 September to 12 November.
The Domestic Abuse Team focused their activities across the six towns and held some joint events with West Midlands Police.
The team spoke to many residents about safety and raised awareness of support and services available to victims of domestic abuse.
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How to keep safe over the Christmas and New Year period
Advice on keeping safe during Christmas and the New Year period is available in the Sandwell Herald. See pages 8-9.
16 Days of Activism:
Quilt of Hope unveiled
The global theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”.
Our Domestic Abuse Team together with Black Country Women’s Aid worked with women and children affected by domestic abuse and modern slavery to create a wonderful community quilt with words of positivity and hope to raise awareness of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.
The Quilt of Hope has been touring a number of venues in Sandwell during the 16 Days and will be on display at Sandwell Council House, Oldbury, on Friday 8 December, 9.30am-4pm.
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Multi-agency domestic abuse training
A range of multi-agency domestic abuse training is available to officers in Sandwell between now and March 2024.
Details of the dates of multi-agency domestic abuse training and how to book
All sessions are held online via Microsoft Teams. Sessions include:
- Domestic Abuse and Recourse to Public Funds
- Child to Parent Abuse
- Learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews
- Domestic Abuse – two-day course
- Working with Men Who Abuse in Relationships
- Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse
- Domestic Abuse and Adult Safeguarding
- Sexual Assault and Abuse & Female Genital Mutilation
Please note we recommend officers complete the Sandwell Learn Domestic Abuse eLearning module before attending the Domestic Abuse two-day training course. To access the Sandwell Learn eLearning training, email Sandwell_Learn@sandwell.gov.uk
Sandwell Council plays a lead role in the Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership (DASP) which is responsible for bringing together partner organisations and agencies to address domestic abuse. The partnership has produced a strategy entitled Sandwell Domestic Abuse Strategy and this sets out the partnership priorities for action.
Does your team need more information on domestic abuse?
You can email a member of the Domestic Abuse Team at domesticabuse_admin@sandwell.gov.uk
Visit the council's domestic abuse webpages.
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