Safe Browsing
Last year Catch22 Victim Services raised awareness of the 16 Days of Action against Gender Based Violence with the theme ‘End Gender Based Violence in the World of Work’. The campaign focused on what employers can do to help their employees who are victims of, or affected by, domestic violence. This also included training staff to understand domestic abuse and protecting their workforce as a whole.
At Catch22, our vision is simple. Everyone should have a good place to live, a purpose and good people around them. Our services seek to unite and strengthen a diverse community by building resilience and aspiration in people and communities. We believe that there is a need for diverse services for the diverse community. We have experience delivering a range of victim services and broader work including child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, substance misuse and service supporting gang exit.
Catch22 Victim Services are passionate about raising awareness of domestic violence and sexual violence. We are proud to have a supporting team that encourage each other to have difficult conversations. Within our services we ensure that all our staff members have regular access to supervision, case reviews and debriefs with their line managers after supporting sensitive and complex cases.
However, if they ever require the same support themselves we ensure that they are pointed in the right direction so that they can make the choice of what support and help they would like. Whether it is to disclose to another colleague, or speak to someone confidentially through our counselling line.
We are delighted to stand with UK SAYS NO MORE as a partner and champion for raising awareness to end Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence across UK. Using the theme of #WhatICanDo, here are few good things to that you can do to help:
1. Know the warning signs. Is your colleague constantly checking in with their partner before they go anywhere or spend any money?
2. Understand the basics. Understanding the different forms of domestic abuse or sexual violence will help you help someone in need.
3. Don’t pressure them. There are so many reasons why a victim of domestic abuse might stay in the relationship; fear, shame, financial reasons, cultural pressures, children. If they have finally got the courage to open up to you, pressuring them to leave might frighten them. You could also become yet another person trying to control them, and that’s the last thing they need. Don’t be judgemental and be there to listen and support them in whatever way they want you to.
4. Help them develop a safety plan. The plan could be a leaving plan, mental coping mechanisms, empowerment goals etc. Safety plans depends on the person and what their needs are. So, listen and be there to help them find what they need.
5. Be supportive. This isn’t about you. It’s about them. Support them in what every way they need and guide them towards the professionals who are trained to provide help.
6. Make sure they know that confidential help is accessible. Make sure they know that there is help for any victim of domestic abuse and help them by guiding them.
16 Days of Activism, along with the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign, are both two powerful campaigns that provides victims and witnesses and our colleagues with a platform to raise their voices and take an active stand against domestic violence and sexual violence. It’s so important to take a stand and play our part to educate people and communities, raise awareness and support victims to empower them. Every person is different. Every need is different.
For that reason, we ensure that there is a broad range of diverse service available for everyone. Our tailored support plan ensures that everyone is supported in an individualised approach. We will continue raise the profile of the campaign and the voices of the people who need our support across the organisation and beyond.
