A POTTED HISTORY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY PROJECT (GDVSAP)
In the late 1970’s a group of Gloucester residents got together because they were concerned about the plight of an increasing number of local women and children made homeless, and emotionally traumatised by domestic abuse. Gloucester Family Support was formed and constituted as a charity in 1979.
GFS along with the National Children’s Home started the first refuge in Gloucester for women and their children fleeing domestic abuse and managed the refuge until Stonham Housing Association took over in 1990.
In the 1980’s several move-on properties were acquired which GFS managed on behalf of Solon Housing Association, providing safe, supported housing for women and their children who were ready to leave refuge, but still needed an element of support to help them with independent living. In 1995 Solon purchased more Second Stage Housing, bringing the total to 11 2&3 bed houses, and 4 flats which we still manage.
In July 1994 a telephone advice line was set up, initially available for limited hours during weekdays, but offering support to women throughout the county.
In 1998 a member of the Gloucestershire Police Domestic Abuse Unit, the Gloucester Family Support Manager, and a member of Gloucestershire Probation made a visit to Duluth Minnesota, USA to research the effectiveness of a model of intervention in cases of domestic abuse. The Duluth model is one of the oldest, most innovative and successful interagency projects in existence, and emphasis as its core value, the right to victim choice and perpetrator accountability. Inspired by its success, an integrated approach was initiated in Gloucestershire, called the Co-ordinated Community Response (CCR) to domestic abuse.
In December 2000 GFS was restructured with funding from the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme as one of twenty-five pilot projects, and became GDVSAP. Since that time GDVSAP has continued to support women, has initiated new projects and widened the support offered to include men, BME communities, and same sex victims. GDVSAP has formed close links and is committed to joint working with other statutory and voluntary agencies in the county.
Domestic abuse is cross cutting – domestic abuse occurs across society, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexuality, wealth and geography.
I clearly remember a conversation that I had with a young women when I first started working for GDVSAP – her mother was in a abusive relationship with her father, and in the last incidence of violence her father had beaten her mother unconscious, this had left her mother with headaches, blurry vision, and loss of some of the use of her right arm. This young woman was ringing to see if there was some way she could force her mother to seek medical attention. I said that as long as her mother was competent she could not force her, however she should encourage her. I asked if this incident had been reported to the Police, the young women said that her mother had not reported the incident because she feared he may lose his job as a Harley Street Consultant.
Domestic abuse affects not only the victims, but also the children who witness abuse. Domestic abuse can have devastating effects on children, and research has shown that children who witness domestic abuse often fail to thrive, they can become withdrawn, or abusive themselves, not only to their peers, but sometime take on the role of the abusive parent who has left. I supported a young mother who was assaulted by her 8 year old son and left with a black eye. When she questioned him as to why he did it, he said "I did it because dads not here to do it" Although GDVSAP do not work directly with children, by supporting the abused parent we can help them to protect their children, and enable them to parent in an effective way and help end the cycle of violence.
Research shows that children living in homes where there is domestic abuse are more likely to offend, misuse substances, truant from school and run away from home.
GDVSAP operate a telephone helpline 7 days a week, Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.00 and Sat and Sun 11.00 to 7.00. We also provide 1 to 1 support by appointment, and offer a limited outreach service. We employ 2 specialist BME community workers who have comprehensive language skills in both Asian and Eastern European languages, and understand issues that may affect individuals from these communities. Our 2nd stage housing supports women to live independent lives free from violence.
The support we offer is both practical and emotional, – We are able to discuss options with clients who may not be aware that there are civil remedies that could prevent them from becoming homeless because of the abuse, such as occupation orders which remove the abusive partner, or Anti-Social Behaviour Clauses if they are in social housing. We discuss safety planning with our clients, whether they are still with the abusive partner or not. We risk assess every referral we receive, and if the client comes out as very high risk we refer into the MARAC process which is administrated by the police. We can accompany our clients to solicitor appointments and support them through the court process.
Although emotional abuse dose not constitute a crime, victims and survivors often find it more destructive which can lead to crippling loss of self esteem and self confidence. Women’s Aid reports that women who area the victims of domestic abuse are at least three times more likely to experience depression or anxiety disorders than other women, and that one-third of all female suicide attempts and half of those by BME women can be attributed to past or current experiences of domestic abuse. By offering long term emotional support, or ensuring that referrals are made to other appropriate support services, GDVSAP can help them to overcome some of these issues and lessen the impact on our over stretched NHS resources. The cost of treating mental disorders due to domestic abuse is 176,000,000 per year nationally (Walby 2004)
I should imagine many of you ask why don’t just leave their abusive partner. Domestic abuse is very complex. It is about the abuse of power, and it is about control. Perpetrators of abuse will use tactics of control, such as threatening to tell Social Services that they are a bad parent, and that the children will be taken away. When the perpetrator holds the power in the relationship they will believe that they are capable of doing it.
There is always emotional abuse in an abusive relationship, and when victims are continually told they are ugly, stupid, that no one else would have them, their self confidence and self esteem is eroded. It is very difficult for victims to make a major life changing decision when they are so low. Victims are also the best judge of what perpetrators are capable of, and we know that two to three women are killed in the United Kingdom every week.
A couple of years ago we supported a client who was in a very violent physical relationship and had been hospitalised sixteen times in one year. We always encouraged her to report the incidents to the police; however she was very frightened and said that he would kill her if she did report. Our service is confidential, but confidentiality would go out the window if it was disclosed that a client was in imminent danger of serious of harm or death. All of the incidents that she disclosed to us were historic so we were unable to report any. After the last incident she had been hospitalised for five days and had disclosed that her injuries were because of an assault from her partner. We urged her to report this because the assaults were becoming more frequent and more severe. She finally found the courage to contact the police. The perpetrator was arrested, charged, convicted and given a custodial sentence. GDVSAP supported her through this and whilst her partner served his sentence. Before her partner was released we ensured that her case was reviewed in a Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), and that the Domestic Abuse Unit had fitted a panic alarm. Over the next few months her support needs decreased, and just before Christmas 2008 we had a card from her thanking GDVSAP for giving her life back.
GDVSAP have a successful track record of helping victims rebuild their lives, re-establish a ‘normal’ family life and contribute to their community through a sustained and sensitive programme of intervention. We helped over 1,700 last year through our helpline and advocacy service, housing support and specialist BME community support. We have seen an increase in the number of referrals to the helpline sine the economic downturn as families are struggling to cope with financial instability, job losses, and the possibility of losing their homes.
I have tried not to blind you with too many figures, but the research carried out by MAIDEN for the Domestic Abuse/Sexual Violence Strategy has suggested that the cost of the economic and social consequences for the county of Gloucestershire has been set at a staggering 57,000,000 , and more than 3 times that figure if emotional costs are included.