Programme to support domestic abuse victims piloted as part of work to tackle gender-based violence
Today, Greater Manchester has published a report on its progress in delivering its Gender-Based Violence Strategy. GMCA has championed innovative work that services in the city-region are pioneering, improving the way we respond to gender-based violence in Greater Manchester.
One such example is domestic abuse crisis workers, piloted in Salford and Bolton. The pilot saw a domestic abuse worker join visits from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to reports of domestic abuse. The programme prioritises prevention, the protection of women, and the need to deliver effectively in an area that has constrained funding.
By using volunteers, the programme delivered value for money, enriched volunteering opportunities to people in local communities, enhanced volunteers’ employability, relieved local service workloads and pressure, and delivered a service to women that they have overwhelmingly embraced.
As lead for the domestic abuse crisis pilot in Bolton, Dr Gill Smallwood MBE, Fortalice said:
“The results we are seeing through the pilot have been really positive in terms of ensuring victims get a support worker enabling them to access domestic abuse services with immediate effect. Evidence suggests that by getting victims into a service quickly, it can reduce the abuse from escalating though the earlier interventions which can be offered.”
Roselyn Baker, Salford City Council, and lead for the pilot in Salford, added:
“The pilot has also created new openings for shared learning for domestic abuse workers and the police, which has further improved the service for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. As the pilot continues into its second year it will provide vital opportunities to listen to the voice of the victim and make further improvements, so that victim and survivor needs are met more fully”.
The domestic abuse crisis pilot is just one part of work to deliver Greater Manchester’s 10-year Gender-Based Violence Strategy. It comes as an annual report is released by GMCA today, which details the work delivered over the past year to tackle and reduce gender-based violence across the city-region.
Some key achievements mentioned in the Gender-Based Violence Annual Report 2024 include:
- Securing over £5million of funding which has been used to support services and partners across Greater Manchester, including providing Independent Domestic Violence Advisors who support people experiencing crisis, alongside supporting the provision of perpetrator programmes to reduce future incidences of domestic abuse.
- Creating the Lotus Hub, which helps women impacted by the rules surrounding no recourse to public funds, who are some of the most vulnerable women in Greater Manchester.
- Investing in public engagement, extending the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s #IsThisOK? Campaign, which has since reached over 4.1 million social media views and has been shown to have impacted on raising men and boys’ awareness of gender-based violence and how to help stop inappropriate behaviour.
- Creating a Lived Experience Panel, comprised of women with diverse experiences of gender-based violence who have committed to using their voice to help shape Greater Manchester’s response to the issue.
Looking forward to the next two years of delivery in the strategy, Greater Manchester has widened the remit of its work to include areas that women have told us are crucial to supporting them in combatting gender-based violence, including: employers and employment, travel and transport, and children.
Kate Green, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire said:
“Our annual report is an opportunity for us to reflect on the first two years of delivering our ambitious Gender-Based Violence Strategy.
“We have made real progress and helped to make Greater Manchester a safer place. But we know that there is still much work to do, and that the pace of change needs to continue, as announcements such as the recent National Police Chief’s Council’s ‘Violence Against Women and Girls has reached epidemic levels’ news story makes clear.
“Through working closely with our Gender-Based Violence Board members, leaders and organisations from all sectors, as well as the communities of Greater Manchester, we will ensure that we continue this vital work. Together, we will make the change that’s needed.”
Greater Manchester’s Gender-Based Violence Annual Report 2024 can be read in full by going to GMCA’s webpage: greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/gbv
Article Published: 02/09/2024 10:11 AM