Published: 23/11/2021
COPELAND Council is urging residents suffering from domestic abuse to come forward.
The Council is taking part in the worldwide 16 days of Action Against Domestic Violence campaign, supported by Public Health England.
Spanning across 16 days, from Thursday (November 25) until December 10, the campaign is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Copeland Council is using the event to promote its specialist service.
The Council will be highlighting the various forms of domestic abuse in an effort to raise awareness and encourage people to seek help.
Issues including the impact on children, coercive behaviour, the role of family and friends, domestic abuse and the workplace, emotional abuse, elder abuse, financial abuse and stalking, will all be highlighted over the 16 days.
Copeland Council has supported 449 adults and children since the service was introduced in 2018.
The Prevention and Crisis Support Officers work with those who have suffered domestic abuse or sexual exploitation, linking in with the council’s Housing Options team to provide emergency accommodation if necessary. Some of these properties have been expertly adapted to create a safe home for people and families who may be at serious risk.
One service user said: “I have suffered domestic abuse for 23 years. I walked out on my partner and went to Copeland Borough Council.
“They have a fantastic team to help you. I had a lovely safe place to stay within two hours. All the help is there for you, the team deal with everything.
“I have been free from my abuser for five months, and now I have a new home and a new life. You don’t have to suffer anymore.”
Another service user said: “I have never had the pleasure of receiving such amazing, life-changing support.
“Your officers have not just helped our housing situation for the better but they have had a huge hand in making our new life the happiest it’s ever been.”
To contact the Prevention and Crisis Support Officer, email housing.options@copeland.gov.uk or call 01946 598300 to access the 24 hour service. Residents can self-refer at https://www.copeland.gov.uk/homelessness.
The council advises that anyone who believes they are in immediate danger of abuse or exploitation should call 999 immediately. Those who are affected by these issues but have somewhere safe to stay should call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or email helpline@refuge.org.uk.
