Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their home and community.
That’s why we have a dedicated safeguarding team who work with social services, health care and the police to keep our customers safe from harm, abuse and neglect.
And it’s also why we’ve once again thrown our support behind the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign which aims to put an end to violence against women and girls.
This year’s campaign ran from 25th November to 10th December, and during this time our safeguarding team held awareness days with colleagues to share how we tackle violence against our customers and provide the support they need.
They also welcomed guest speakers from Leeds GATE to talk about the work the charity does for gypsy and traveller communities across West Yorkshire through their domestic violence, education and mental health support services.
And in return, we’ve gathered donations of essential items for those fleeing violence, and our safeguarding team will also be volunteering with the charity soon.
Want to find out more about how we’ve supported the campaign? Hear from our Safeguarding and Outreach Experts, Elise Richardson and Emma Hodson, in the video above.
What is gender-based violence?
This is violence motivated by a person’s gender, including physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse. Research from UN Women shows 1 in 3 women will be subjected to violence at some point in their life.
And although women and girls are the main victims, it can also cause severe harm to men, children, families and communities.
How can we help?
We want all our customers to feel safe at home. If they’re experiencing abuse, neglect or harm, or they think someone else might be, we’re there to help.
There’s lots of different ways we can help, including:
- Putting together safety plans to help customers stay safe
- Working with local councils, charities and voluntary organisations to get customers the help they need
- Linking customers up with the right people including experts in safeguarding who can give specialist support
- Taking enforcement action
For more information on our support services, or to report any concerns, visit our safeguarding webpage.