Honeycomb Group is working with faith and community leaders across Derbyshire to help strengthen the response to domestic abuse and make it easier for people to find support.
Through our domestic abuse support provider, Glow, we're working with the Diocese of Derby to share specialist knowledge with the people already supporting communities across the county.
From September, members of Glow's IDVA team will contribute to the Diocese Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP), working alongside partners including the police and Adult Social Care.
Reaching people through trusted communities
For someone experiencing domestic abuse, asking for help isn't always straightforward.
While specialist services like Glow are there to help, someone's first conversation about what they're experiencing may be with somebody they already know and trust – including a faith or community leader.
Through the partnership, Glow will help those working within parish communities understand how to recognise potential signs of domestic abuse, respond safely and sensitively to a disclosure, and connect someone with specialist support.
Glow IDVA Service Manager Gemma Thomas said:“We know that reaching out for help can be incredibly difficult, and a specialist domestic abuse service might not always be the first place someone turns.
“For some people, that first conversation could be with someone they already know and trust within their faith or community. We want to make sure that when someone does find the courage to speak about what they're experiencing, the person listening feels confident about what to do next and where they can find support.”
Understanding the barriers to reaching out
Faith can be an important source of comfort, identity and community. But individual circumstances, family or community expectations, and concerns about judgement or isolation can sometimes make talking about domestic abuse more difficult.
Understanding these experiences and potential barriers will form an important part of Glow's work with the Diocese.
By bringing specialist domestic abuse knowledge into existing community safeguarding networks, we're helping the people already connected with communities feel better equipped to recognise abuse, respond appropriately and understand the support available.
Glow's IDVA team will begin attending DSAP meetings from September, continuing to work alongside the Diocese of Derby and its safeguarding partners to strengthen the response available to people experiencing domestic abuse.
Find out more about Glow’s services here: www.findtheglow.org.uk
