Freedom Programme

| January 9, 2024

We are delighted to announce that we will be starting our next session of The Freedom Programme on Wednesday 10th January 2024. The attached link gives details of the programme: if you feel this is something you could benefit from, we will be holding another session of the programme later in the year, so please get in touch to register. www.freedomprogramme.co.uk

Feedback from previous attendees:

“I believe now, I am good enough! I have choices now. I follow what feels right now and I am in control of me! I’m very assertive now, and confident and comfortable in my own skin again.”

“My first meeting was such an eye opener! I am not the only person going through stuff like this and I didn’t expect it to be as informative as it was. I was glued to the meeting for the 2 hours. For the next 10 weeks I gladly joined my weekly meetings. How to explain how I felt aft the 10 weeks was like a jigsaw in my head had placed all the pieces together. It is heard to realise or to admit to friends you need help or something is not right, but this course made me realise I am not alone.”

“When I started I was stuck, I could see no way out, I was surviving. Now I am thriving.”

Christmas Closing

| December 21, 2023

We would like thank you for all your support during the last year and wish you all a very peaceful and happy Christmas.  We look forward to meeting with you all in the New Year

Our office will be closed from Friday 22nd December 2023 until Tuesday 2nd January 2024

From all of us at

Waveney Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum

AGM 2023

| December 14, 2023

A few pictures from our AGM a couple of weeks ago. Huge thanks to everyone who came to support us, and extra thanks to all who donated to the raffle, helping us to raise £156.

Chair of Trustee’s, Christine Tripp
Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore
Trauma Therapist, Sue Parker
Mayor of Lowestoft, Sonia Barker
CIO, Manager of Feathers Futures, Jo Critch

New Suffolk Domestic Abuse Helpline – Freephone 24/7 – 0800 977 5690

| August 27, 2019

DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE EXTENDED TO OFFER ROUND THE CLOCK SUPPORT IN SUFFOLK

Suffolk County Council working with Anglia Care Trust has today <Friday 22 May> extended its Domestic Abuse Helpline to offer 24-hour support and is urging anyone experiencing, or at risk of, domestic abuse to make contact, when safe to do so.

With lockdown measures still in place, it is important that those who may find themselves at risk of abuse at home, can access the right support at whatever time they need. The existing Domestic Abuse Outreach Service have therefore extended its 0800 977 5690 freephone number to be available 24hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone with concerns including professionals who may be supporting clients, as well as friends and families who are concerned for loved ones, can access this local support.

The government advice encouraging people to stay at home as much as possible will have created additional challenges to those at risk of domestic abuse who may feel unable to access safe support. Domestic abuse remains a priority for partners across Suffolk during this period.

Paul West, Cabinet Member for Communities at Suffolk County Council, said: “More than ever, it is really important that we look out for each other and if you have concerns about a neighbour, friend or family member please encourage them to reach out for support when it is safe for them to do so.

“This 24hour free phoneline is a vital lifeline in helping those in need.”

The service also includes a live web chat each day from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday which can be assessed here: https://angliacaretrust.org.uk/

If people are in immediate danger they should call the police on 999. If someone is unable to speak or make a sound, but needs immediate help, they should  call 999 and stay on the line, then press 55 when prompted and the call will be transferred to the police, who will know it is an emergency call.

Domestic Violence: Child-parent abuse doubles in three years

| August 7, 2019

(BBC News) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49207887

The number of reported crimes involving children attacking parents has doubled in the past three years, data suggests. Comparable data from 19 police forces in England, Wales and the Channel Islands saw annual incidents jump from 7,224 in 2015 to 14,133 in 2018.

Tom Madders, from mental health charity Young Minds said “The figures are alarming but they don’t surprise us. When a young person is behaving in this way towards their parents there is a high likelihood that there is some sort of mental distress involved and that young person is communicating that they do need some support and too often that support is too hard to access. People are reaching out for support and not getting it and often having to resort to calling the police as the only line of support”

Domestic abuse victims more likely to suffer mental illness – study

| June 7, 2019

(The Guardian) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/07/domestic-abuse-victims-more-likely-to-suffer-mental-illness-study

Research found that women who have been abused by their partner are three times more likely to suffer mental ill health. They will often suffer from depression, anxiety of severe conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder than other women, according to research.
The researchers from Birmingham University say that opportunities to spot the signs of domestic abuse, and to tackle it, are being missed. “There does seem to be significant under-recording of domestic abuse within UK primary care. We are not saying that GPs should be asking the question more,” said Dr Joht Singh Chandan, academic clinical fellow in public health and lead author.