What interested you in becoming a Domestic Abuse Champion?
I am a Survivor of Domestic Abuse, I have journeyed through services, and the legal system and have been through my own recovery. I am passionate about educating others to ensure they know how best to support victims.
How did you find the course?
The course is informative, it allows for open and honest conversations. The course is a safe space to challenge misconceptions, challenge stereotypes, to learn to identify the different types of abuse, what to do when you suspect abuse and to learn how to safely support a victim of abuse. A powerful point in the course is learning and understanding why a victim may not want to leave a relationship – this is information that can allow for a robust safety plan to be created.
Since taking the training, how have you been able to apply your skills to help people?
Since completing the course, I have been able to apply my skills across a variety of settings, and not just professionally. The Knowledge Hub allows me to stay up to date with events and training and shares relevant information to support continued learning and to ensure that I am up to date on the latest information and services in my area.
I can use my experiences and training to support my colleagues with individuals they are supporting, I have been able to show them how to make referrals, and support them to identify services to support with ‘leaving safely’. I have also been able to support colleagues with their personal experiences. I use team meetings to raise awareness of domestic abuse, suggest training, articles to read and services to access. I have used the skills from the training to complete risk assessments and raise the outcomes to the relevant service and complete referrals.
I am able to use the training to advocate for a multi-agency approach that adopts a collaborative approach with the victim to ensure the right support and safety plans are in place. As well as ensuring the victim is empowered and given a voice in what is happening in their life.
I find the role as a whole quite rewarding, my colleagues regularly approach me for advice and discussions, the same within my personal life. It is so important to be approachable and to share good and safe information. This has allowed me to support victims to safely leave and begin to rebuild their lives. The biggest challenge is the daily reminder of how many people are victims, from people I support, colleagues, friends and family, at times it can feel that not much has changed within ‘the system’ to prevent abuse, but this is where I remind myself of the importance of the Champions, to keep talking, educating and advocating for change. To be a clear voice that abuse has to stop, it can be stopped, and the Champions network is essential in getting that message out there.
What would you say to anyone considering becoming a champion?
“What are you waiting for” – Becoming a champion will not only support you to learn and grow as a person and a professional, the skills you learn, how you then pass on your learning, the advocating for change, can and will save lives.
Many organisations struggle to support people experiencing Domestic Abuse and are sometimes not confident enough to talk to someone about it or encourage them to disclose.
Our Domestic Abuse Champions offer consistent information, advice and support which is helping to bring lasting positive changes for victims across Suffolk. Reaching victims as early as possible will prevent further harm.
To find out more about Suffolk’s Domestic Abuse Champions, visit the Domestic abuse and sexual violence pages.
To book free Domestic Abuse Champions training, visit the booking page.
