100 Wiltshire women become ambassadors for domestic abuse charity
They were trained in spotting signs and approaching victims
Around 100 women across Wiltshire have been training with Swindon’s Society Without Abuse to become first line supporters for victims.
SWA and Wiltshire’s Women’s Institute teamed up to teach women about different types of abuse through a combination of online and in person training.
The so-called Ambassadors will also be signposting victims to services that can help them escape the abuse and recover from the trauma.
Kate Rowland, CEO of SWA, said: “Domestic abuse continues to be so prevalent in our communities because it is so hidden. By having a network of Ambassadors throughout the Wiltshire community, we can help to ensure that anyone who might be in need of help can be identified and supported, either by us or one of our partner organisations in the county.
“Domestic abuse can affect anyone of any age or background, but people are often wary about asking the difficult questions when they first spot the signs. By being able to equip so many women across Wiltshire with the knowledge and confidence to just ask those questions and be able to tell others where help is available will have a long-lasting impact on one day bringing an end to domestic abuse in our society.”
The ambassadors are part of different women’s groups across the county and will be approaching women who display signs of domestic abuse, such as behaviour changes or physical signs like bruises.
Ms. Rowland explained that, on average, victims experience 35 incidents of domestic abuse before they reach out for help.
However, it takes an average of asking for help seven times until a victim receives “meaningful support”.
The aim of the ambassador scheme is to make it easier for victims to seek out help if they are approached by an ambassador instead of having to contact a helpline.
Gill Gibson-Piggott, from the Wiltshire federation of Women’s Institutes, added: “Our hope is simply that, by creating SWA Ambassadors in every Wiltshire WI and talking about domestic abuse more openly, victims feel able to seek support sooner. If just one victim reaches out for help via this work, it will have been worthwhile.”