White Ribbon Day 2024

We're raising awareness of domestic abuse 

Monday 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.

Domestic abuse - the facts:

According to Refuge – the UK’s largest domestic abuse organisation:

• The police receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds. Yet it's estimated that less than 24% of domestic abuse crime is reported to the police
• 1 in 4 women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime
• On average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every five days in England and Wales
• It takes, on average, seven attempts before a woman is able to leave an abusive partner for good. Leaving an abusive partner is a process, not a single act
• Domestic abuse is linked to depression and homelessness. Women who experience domestic abuse are twice as likely to experience depression, and 40% of homeless women state domestic abuse as a contributory factor to their homelessness
• Domestic abuse can lead women to suicide. It is estimated that around 3 women a week die by suicide as a result of domestic abuse
• 20% of children in the UK have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse
• Young girls in the UK report high incidence of sexual violence. 41% of UK girls aged 14 to 17 in an intimate relationship experienced some form of sexual violence from their partner
• 93% of defendants in domestic abuse cases are male; 84% of victims are female. And yet, women are three times more likely to be arrested for incidents of abuse
• Domestic abuse costs the UK an estimated £23 billion a year

To mark White Ribbon Day and the following 16 Days of Action, we want to highlight 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 Move process, or financial through our Helping Hand Fund.

Dedicated support

Joelle is one of Hyde’s three Specialist Housing Contract Managers. She’s responsible for liaising with Hyde’s supported living managing agents and RCH care homes in Kent.

Joelle ensures that managing agents are meeting requirements around compliance and housing management, and advises agency staff on the services available to our customers.

She explains:

“We provide four women’s refuges and the managing agents work with clients to try and ensure positive next steps in terms of their next accommodation.

“I advertise Jigsaw (our Priority Move process) with the managing agents. The agent will then refer the women, making sure that they are also registered for the local authority’s housing register.”

Laura*

“Laura arrived at one of our refuges with very few belongings and no savings, after escaping an abusive situation. She had a successful bid on a one bedroom flat, but had no savings to buy anything to help her to live there.

“The managing agent approached us for assistance, having exhausted all local sources. Through the Hyde Foundation, we helped Laura apply for grant funding to supply white goods and a double bed for her new home.

“Laura moved into her new flat in May this year. We made another application in September to our Helping Hand Fund. Thanks to Helping Hand, we were able to have all the bare wooden floors carpeted. This gave Laura a real boost, and a great foundation on which she can start again, and look at returning to work.”

Laura recently got in touch with Joelle, to thank her for all her help and support.

She said:

"Hi Joelle

I would like to thank you for all your help and support during a difficult time in my life - your communication has been second to none. The refuge staff and yourself informed me of a grant I was able to get, which you made the process a little less daunting due to my anxiety. Without the grant, I would still have no cooking facilities and no refrigeration. I am so grateful for the items I received, including the bed and mattress.

I feel very grateful to have had the help and finally find someone that was able and willing to help someone like me, means so much. And for me and my anxiety, communication is key.
Joelle you smashed it, making me feel listened to and keeping me informed at every step of the way and promptly replying to my many emails making me feel seen and heard."

*We've changed Laura’s name to protect her identity.

For more information and resources.

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.