Wokingham Borough Council’s decision making executive is set to approve its Domestic Abuse Strategy (2021-2024) when it meets at an extraordinary executive on Wednesday 15 December.
The proposed strategy will deliver on the council’s response to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and sets out the council and local partner organisations approaches to providing support for domestic abuse victims and their children, holding perpetrators to account and working towards long-term wellbeing.
The aims of the strategy include reaching out to borough residents who are suffering from domestic abuse, whilst working towards a society in which people can live without fear of abuse or violence.
As part of the strategy, effective prevention including early intervention, will be addressed, particularly in schools to help educate and influence values in childhood and adolescence, as well as shifting social norms to become less accepting of violence and abuse.
The strategy is backed by a multi-agency three year action plan which details how the council will achieve real changes to many borough residents who are living with the impact of domestic abuse, putting the onus on those who are committing acts of abuse to change their behaviours.
Executive member for neighbourhood and communities Cllr Bill Soane said, “Wokingham Borough Council is committed to a comprehensive response to domestic abuse that provides support for residents who experience it and hold perpetrators to account. Our priority is the safety of all victims of domestic abuse, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or financial status.
“With the help of over forty local multi-agency partners, our ambitious three-year strategy details how we have undertaken a robust needs assessment to help us understand the issues faced by individual and families from Wokingham Borough who are experiencing, and those who have experienced, domestic abuse.”
To support delivery on this strategy, a detailed action plan has been developed in partnership with victim-survivors and organisations working in the Wokingham area to strengthen and coordinate the work of the council and partner agencies so that individuals and families across Wokingham, and those who need to flee to Wokingham, can see real and lasting progress being made. This action plan will be monitored by the Wokingham Domestic Abuse Partnership Board and Domestic Abuse Networking Group with progress reported to the Community Safety Partnership.
The Domestic Abuse Strategy (2021-2024) is expected to raise awareness and accessibility of information, provide safe accommodation to all victims and their children and putting the onus firmly on perpetrators of abuse to change their behaviour.
Domestic Abuse support
There is lots of help and support available if you are experiencing domestic abuse or know someone who is:
- The Wokingham Domestic Abuse Service for victims / survivors, children and young people and perpetrator support: Contact via the website, or call 0118 402 1921 (calls answered 9am – 5pm week days with an out of hours emergency service in place)
- SupportU local LGBTQ+ domestic abuse support: Contact via the website, or call 0118 321 9111 (10am – 7pm, Monday to Friday)
- Kaleidoscopic UK, a local peer support service for adults and children: Contact via the website
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (female victims): 0800 2000 247 (24 hours)
- Mankind Initiative (male victims): 01823 334244
- Male Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
- National LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline: 0800 999 5428
- Respect phone line (those worried about their behaviour): 0808 802 4040
- Tulips radio drama: available to watch on Youtube, Soundcloud and all major Podcasting platforms
- IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 999
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