Posted on 24 November 2023
Saturday 25 November is White Ribbon Day, an international day to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. This is followed by 16 Days of Action, where people come together and say ‘No’ to domestic abuse.
This year’s theme is #ChangeTheStory – encouraging individuals, organisations and workplaces to make choices so that we #ChangeTheStory for women and girls to live their lives free from the fear of violence.
According to White Ribbon UK:
- Nearly 1 in 4 girls in mixed sex schools have experienced unwanted sexual touching in school
- 6 in 10 women have felt harassed in the gym by a man
- 30% of women have experience workplace harassment
- 7 million women experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2022
- Almost one in three women aged 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. Two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales alone. Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on victims, survivors and their families.
We want to spend the next 16 days highlighting the work that we, along with our partners, do to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This could be practical support, for example, through our priority moves process, or financial through funding including our Hardship Fund and Domestic Abuse Fund.
Annie's* story demonstrates the difference we make to victims of domestic abuse, and how we were able to assist with both practical and financial help:
Annie's story
*Annie is not our customer’s real name
Annie was living in South London with her three young children. Her ex-partner was controlling towards Annie, and would threaten her physically and verbally. He would regularly smash up their flat, cut up her clothes, belittle her and hide her keys so she couldn’t go out. He was also racially abusive towards her mixed race son from a previous relationship.
Annie was finally supported by an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor. She was deemed ‘high risk’ as she was fleeing domestic abuse, and was accepted for a priority move.
We moved Annie in March 2023. However, due to her circumstances before the move, she didn’t have any money to help with the move or to decorate her new home. We worked with Hyde Foundation, who provided support through the Hardship Fund to decorate her home and our Domestic Abuse Fund supported her with moving costs.
Annie was incredibly appreciative of the support she received from us, particularly from her Tenancy Officer, Lisa. She sent Lisa the following note to thank her for all her help:
Good afternoon Lisa
I hope this email finds you well. I would just like to put into words how grateful I am to you and all the team at Hyde for helping me at a time when I needed help the most. I have never felt so alone and isolated in all my life with going through domestic abuse and having to leave my home and everything I know. But having you and the team, just at the end of the phone, really helped make things easier for me.
It's so daunting moving away from everything you know and love and into a basic empty shell of a home with no carpets or decoration. But having you helped ease the worry of purchasing paint (through giving me vouchers for paint) and for arranging my carpets to be laid (Tudor carpets were phenomenal!).
You answered all my questions and I know at times I probably became quite annoying keep calling and asking you what’s next. But you were always patient with me and understanding and above all kind. So, thank you. We are settled into our lovely spacious home now and in a much nicer area away from all the problems we faced before – we all so happy! Even the cat - so thank you! I will never forget how well Hyde treated me in my time of need.
Lots and lots of love
Annie
Find more information and resources on our website.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic abuse you can access help and support from the National Domestic Violence Helpline, Women’s Aid and Refuge on 0808 2000 247.
If you or others are in immediate danger, phone the police on 999.