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There's nothing funny to see here.

3/31/2020

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As a service, we made the decision not to share or make comment on a recent video made by boxer, Billy Joe Saunders, on our social media.  Not because we wanted to hide it, but because we didn’t want to give him the publicity, nor give anyone else an opportunity to use it as a twisted instruction manual.  Now however, his license has been suspended by the British Boxing Board and there have been consequences to his frankly appalling and dangerous actions, we feel we want to address it.

Saunders stated he was “joking” and did it to “take the heat off” the Covid-19 pandemic.  We need the world to know that domestic abuse is never a joke.  Need for domestic abuse services has grown by 80% in the last 10 years.  This years Femicide Census revealed the highest number of women killed by men since the census began.  62% of children living in an abusive household are harmed directly with 90% of children being witness to abuse between their parents.  All these alarming figures were recorded before the unprecedented position we now find ourselves in as a country.  Houses in lockdown, movements restricted and in the constant company of our partners; a situation many perpetrators have been trying to recreate in their own homes for years has suddenly been handed to them on a plate.  We are not questioning the government’s actions, we are asking that everyone be more aware of those for whom this situation is dangerous, and potentially life threatening.  Agencies operating in this area of work are fearing a pandemic within a pandemic.

Since lockdown began there have been 9 deaths potentially related to domestic abuse.  2 women murdered and their husbands arrested, 2 whole family wipeouts.  Is any of that remotely funny? One of the women’s three young children likely witnessed her violent death.  Is that amusing?  Even after apologizing and pledging £25000 to domestic abuse charities he added that he understands his sense of humour is not everyone’s cup of tea. 
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Whilst £25000 will go a little way to relieving what is a huge financial responsibility for domestic abuse charities, what we would like to see is Saunders and others who trivialize it, change their attitude towards domestic abuse.  We’d like to see a genuine realization that it is a very real, terrifying part of millions of lives.  That it is destructive to victims and children’s mental health and wellbeing, potentially for the rest of their lives.  That it is life altering, often, sadly, deadly and that our current situation is raising the risk.  There’s nothing at all funny to see here. 

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Safety Planning during COVID-19

3/20/2020

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Safety Planning and COVID-19
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During this worrying time, we need to remember that staying at home is not the safest place to be for everybody.  An increase in domestic abuse incidents is sadly inevitable due to increased time with a person causing harm, more emotional and financial stress, less support from friends & family and an increased risk of debilitating illness. Where families have already separated and the perpetrator is homeless, there is an increased likelihood that they will use the situation to attempt to regain access to the family home.  We have produced some basic safety advice for anyone living in an abusive household and having to spend increased time with their perpetrator (see below). 

There are two mobile phone apps that may help to provide some reassurance and advice during this time:-

Hollie Guard App is a free app - https://hollieguard.com/
Brightsky App – is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi & Polish and is a free app - https://www.hestia.org/brightsky

Support and advice from The Wish Centre continues to be available as normal via telephone and email – 01254 260465 or info@bddwa.org .  If you have your IDVA or Case Worker’s mobile phone number please continue to use it as normal.  All your normal contacts are still available via their email. Our refuge provisions are operating as normal.

Groups are no longer taking place and we ask you not to attend at the Centre without a pre-booked appointment.
 

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  • Home
  • Our Story
    • The Team
    • Governance
    • Our Supporters
    • Accreditations
  • Services
    • The Wish Centre
    • IDVA
    • Young People >
      • Young People's Programmes
      • Young Person's IDVA
      • Education
      • Find out more
      • Get Help
    • Peer Mentors
    • Outreach Support
    • Recovery Programmes
    • Change Programmes
    • Perpetrator Work
  • Refuge
  • Impact
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Survivor's Stories
    • Donate/Fundraise
  • COVID-19 Response
  • Contact
    • Vacancies