get comfortable talking about domestic abuse

WOMEN in Tameside are sharing an empowering message to encourage their community to get comfortable talking about domestic abuse.

Tameside Council and partner Jigsaw - which provides the Bridges Domestic abuse support service - have worked with Diversity Matters North West and women from the local South Asian community to relaunch the Take Control campaign to raise awareness of what domestic abuse is and the help and support that is available.

The campaign, which runs from 13 June to 11 July 2022, aims to highlight that behaviours such as controlling someone's money, where they go, what they wear or who they see is illegal and give women experiencing this abuse the confidence and information they need to take control themselves and get help.

Bridges have set up a permanent bilingual helpline 07849 309032 for their service as part of the campaign. There is also an ongoing 24 hour helpline on 0800 328 0967 for advice, support and emergency refuge placements for all genders and all communities. In an emergency you should always call 999.

The campaign reinforces the Greater Manchester wide Sitting Right with You domestic abuse campaign, which also highlights to both perpetrators and victims that controlling and coercive behaviours are not acceptable and if something doesn't feel right then they should seek help.

Women and representatives of organisations involved in launching the Take Control campaign were pictured with the iconic Sitting Right With You yellow sofa to highlight that it is okay to talk about domestic abuse and feel comfortable seeking help.

The campaign is being taken right into the heart of target communities with outreach sessions in schools for parents as well as banners outside school gates, in play areas and on the roadside. There will also be posters in mosques, local shops and health settings as well as adverts on buses and billboards outside supermarkets.

Tameside Council Executive Member Cllr Eleanor Wills, who is responsible for population health, said: "One in three women and one in six men experience domestic abuse at some point. We know that domestic abuse is under-reported on every level - gender, age, ethnicity and sexuality - but our data shows that an even smaller proportion of referrals for help come from the local South Asian community.

"We also understand, from our work with relevant community groups and charities, that South Asian women who are abused are less likely to report it - this can be for many reasons such as fear, shame, culture, family pressure and lack of understanding that domestic abuse is illegal in the UK.

"We want to ensure we reach out to all our communities to ensure they are aware of the support services available for everyone."

Cllr Shibley Alam, a Diversity Matters North West representative as well as ward member for Hyde Werneth - one of the areas being targeted with the campaign and, said: "Last time we ran this campaign we saw an increase in enquiries from our south Asian community and we achieved really good engagement and positive feedback. We're hoping we can have even more of an impact this time in reaching women and empowering them to feel comfortable and confident enough to seek help."

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