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Domestic Abuse Conference 2021 now open for registration!

Published on: Published in: Club News

Following on from the success of our initial Domestic Abuse Conference in the Autumn of 2018 – in those heady days when we could all get together in one room – SI Lichfield & District promises a new “thought provoking and enlightening” edition for 2021.

To be held via Zoom on Saturday 27th February 2021, the Conference – which picks up on President Jenny’s theme of “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover” – will bring together speakers covering the broad spectrum of themes within “domestic abuse” led by keynote speaker – Soroptimist Dame Image of Dame Vera Baird QCVera Baird QC, The Victims’ Commissioner.

The event is also a fund raiser and all profits from the £10 ticket fee will be donated to local Domestic Abuse charities.

You can download the event flyer here.

All are welcome and for full details and registration, please email Club Vice President Marisha at marishaplace@gmail.com

 

 

Also this week, the government Safeguarding Minister Victoria Atkins issued details of another way to support victims of domestic abuse when it launched “Ask for ANI” (Action Needed Immediately). Club Domestic Abuse lead Pauline Shields writes:

The codeword scheme offers immediate help from the police or support agencies from the safety of their local Pharmacy. Boots and some Independent pharmacies have signed up to the scheme and the Home Office provides details for pharmacies interested in adopting the scheme in their pharmacy.
The Gov.UK website offers online training for pharmacy staff and gives a detailed overview of the scheme. It is useful information for all of us.
Separately, an article by Dr Katrin Hohl and Dr Kelly Johnson published in December 2020 for City University of London which looks into the impact of the lockdown has had on domestic abuse services, advises them [domestic abuse services] to prepare for a surge in high risk and high harm reports when Covid restrictions are lifted in 2021. “Our findings demonstrate that perpetrators do not need Covid 19 context to entrap victim/survivors they were already doing so before lockdown.”
“Victim /survivor attempts to separate from the abuser are a known trigger of an escalation in domestic violence. Consequently we are recommending police forces and domestic abuse charities prepare to support victim/ survivors wishing to safely exit abusive relationships.”