Helping Hands Campaign against domestic abuse celebrates Valentines Day

Release Date:  08-Feb-2010

According to the 2008 Quality of Life Survey, 18% of Bristol residents believe that domestic violence and abuse is a private matter. With Valentine’s Day - a traditional day for celebrating love and appreciating our partners - approaching, Safer Bristol and Bristol NHS Public Health team have joined forces to encourage people to get involved and report it if they suspect domestic violence and abuse is happening.

The ‘Helping Hands’ campaign will take to the streets of Bristol on Friday 12th February at locations across the city including Broadmead/The Galleries, Asda Bedminster and Tesco Golden HIll, with stalls giving away free keyrings, and tips and hints on signs and symptoms of domestic violence and abuse, and where to go for help and advice. Visitors to the stalls can also cut out a hand print and write up their message of hope for the future - and get a free cup of hot chocolate (kindly donated by stores)!

The day will end with a quiz at the Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium (contact samuel.hayward@bristolPCT.nhs.uk if you would like to enter a team in the quiz for free).

“Domestic violence and abuse is a crime which affects 1 in 4 women in Bristol,” Lesley Welch, Domestic Violence Strategy Coordinator for Safer Bristol, said. “It affects teenagers in their first relationships as well as older people. Someone we know is experiencing domestic abuse in their relationship now, and we can support them to get help.”

In 90% of cases of domestic violence where children are involved, they are in the same or the next room. Two women every week are killed by abusive partners.

“Even if someone isn’t ready to go to the police, there are agencies in Bristol and anonymous telephone helplines where they can get support,” Amy Campbell, Senior Health Promotion Specialist for Bristol NHS, said. “Sometimes, the best thing we can do for someone experiencing abuse is to say - do you want to talk about it?”

Anyone who is worried that a friend or family member is experiencing abuse, can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 to report it. In an emergency, always call 999.

For more help and advice:
National domestic violence helpline: 0808 2000 247
Womankind Helpline Bristol: 0845 458 2914
Next Link (support for female survivors in Bristol): 0117 925 0680
Victim Support (support for female and male victims in Bristol): 0845 456 6099
Wish (support for male and female survivors in Hartcliffe, Withywood and Knowle): 0117 903 8632
Broken Rainbow (for LGBT survivors): 08452 604 460
Men’s Advice Line (for male victims): 0808 801 0327
Respect (for people worried about their own behaviour): 0845 122 8609
www.bdaf.org.uk for more information on services in Bristol.

Further information from Vicky O'Loughlin on 07595645490

Author:  Vicky O'Loughlin, Media Officer, 0117 9223463

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

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