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There’s no holiday from domestic abuse: Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse Service launches summer campaign

The Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (NIDAS) is launching its summer campaign this week. NIDAS offers free, confidential and non-judgemental support to those affected and their children, to help them recover and build a new life free from abuse.

The ‘There’s no holiday from domestic abuse’ campaign aims to raise awareness of NIDAS and its services at a time of year that sees reporting of domestic abuse reduce, despite there being no evidence to suggest that incidents also lessen.

Launched in January 2022, NIDAS is funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council, South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils.

Delivered in partnership with Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse Service, The Daisy Programme and Safe Partnerships (for target hardening of high-risk clients), NIDAS provides direct support for adults (16+) of all genders, ensuring everyone has access to a full range of help and guidance regardless of where they live in the county.

The support includes dedicated Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) to help those currently experiencing abuse, (if assessed to be at high or medium risk of harm) recovery programmes and a sanctuary scheme that provides target hardening measures which could include ‘safe rooms’ for those deemed to be at high risk.

The service also offers dedicated support for children and young people (if their parent or care giver has been in service) along with coordinated multi-agency support and access to specialist court IDVAs based in the county’s Magistrates courts, who offer support to victims or survivors in domestic abuse proceedings.

NIDAS IDVAs work directly with victims or survivors to develop personalised safety and support plans to help people to move on from abuse with increased confidence and wellbeing, towards long-term positive outcomes.

Sarah Taylor, Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, said: “Domestic abuse counts for 24% of overall crime in Norfolk and blights victims and their families’ lives doing untold damage. This is why it is crucial that victims understand the signs domestic abuse.

“Pressures such as balancing looking after the children, managing the perpetrator, lack of availability and time to contemplate reporting or seeking help may be the cause of this reporting reduction, however, as the campaign details, there is no break from domestic abuse. So, I urge people to contact NIDAS – there is no judgement and you will receive the support you need and deserve.”

The campaign aims to show how domestic abuse manifests within traditional summer holiday settings, helping people to identify that what they are experiencing may be abusive, and encouraging people to self-reflect on the behaviours they experience.

Ultimately, the campaign seeks to encourage people to speak to NIDAS, if they are experiencing domestic abuse.

We know there are many people suffering from domestic abuse, who may not know who, or how to talk about this. NIDAS also manages the Domestic Abuse Champion Network, of which there are currently just over 1,000 trained, dedicated Domestic Abuse Champions throughout a variety of organisations. Professionals receive two-day training to have the skills, confidence and knowledge to ask people who they interact with about domestic abuse, so specialist support can be offered at the earliest opportunity.

Alongside the NIDAS IDVAs, the service includes a team of specialist IDVAs to support those who are known to have unique barriers to accessing support. This team includes, a Male IDVA, LGBT+ IDVA, Older Person IDVA, Diverse Communities IDVA, Disability IDVA, Unmet Needs IDVA, Substance Misuse IDVA and two Health IDVA’s based in hospitals.

The service is operational seven days per week, between 9am and 6.30pm on weekdays, and between 9am and 3pm on weekends.

For more information on how NIDAS can help you, or someone you know, visit: www.nidasnorfolk.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can contact NIDAS in the following ways:

The campaign runs until 6 September 2024.

If you are in immediate danger, always call 999.