Guest Blog | Evie Duarte, Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS)
This has been a year of extraordinary challenges as individuals, families and organisations have been hard hit by COVID 19 bringing personal loss, financial hardship and isolation for many across the country. The impact of COVID on those living with abusers has been extreme. In lockdown, perpetrators have been able to enact more severe forms of control and victims have had less access to their normal support networks, friends or family members. For IDAS this meant an unprecedented demand for our support, with referrals growing to over 22,000 during the year. Our helpline has been busier than it has ever been and we dealt with over 22,000 helpline calls in our Hubs. More than 10,000 people went o to have longer term support in the community and we provided safe accommodation for 250 families. As the impact of the pandemic continues to affect families, we are working closely with survivors to develop and provide services that empower and enable families to recover and thrive.
IDAS supports anyone who is, or has been, subjected to domestic abuse or sexual violence. We provide free, confidential safety advice and guidance on our helpline, which is available 7 days a week 03000 110 110. You can also access our Live Chat facility on our website. We also provide one to one support in the community to help with a number of things, such as understanding what has happened, navigating the criminal justice system or signposting to agencies that can help with benefits or housing issues. Group and peer support helps people start recover from abuse and re-build their lives
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Author: Evie Duarte
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Support Available
- IDAS | 03000 110 110
- Kyra | Email contact@kyra.org.uk.
- Survive | 0808 145 1887
- Respect – Men’s Advice Line | 0808 8010327
- ManKind Initiative | 01823 334244
- Survivors UK | Chat via SMS text 020 3322 1860
- Victim Support | 08 08 16 89 111
- Refuge | 0808 2000 247
- SupportLine | 01708 765200
- The National Domestic Abuse Helpline | 0808 2000 247
- If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.
- If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be an abuser, there is support available. The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families: 0808 802 4040.
