Breaking The Cycle Newsletter – March 2022

Lucy’s Update

The New Year has got off to a very busy start here at Alpha Vesta. We began training again on 4th January, where sessions were already fully booked. Our two newest team members, Julie and Caroline have settled into their roles beautifully and we will be introducing them both to you in the next monthly update.

This month, I presented a webcast for the Chartered Banker Institute alongside a member of our Survivors Symposium, Rosie Lyon who was awarded Young Banker of the Year 2021. The institute is a global professional education body for bankers, based in the UK. The webcast looked at the impact of domestic abuse across the banking sector and the importance of embedding a strong workplace culture of understanding. For more information on the webcast and the link to access the recording, see below.

Every week, Julie, our Training and Community Coordinator is working across Essex to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the Alpha Vesta training packages. This month we were delighted to engage with Starbucks on Canvey Island who will be hosting events and raising awareness within their community.

If you are interested to talk more about our community engagement programme and would like Julie to visit your workplace please get in contact at enquiries@alphavesta.com

We continue to work hard alongside our national and regional partners where we have a number of projects in the pipeline that will be launched over the next few months, so watch this space!

One such project I can share with you now, is our collaboration with Essex Chambers of Commerce, Essex Police, Essex PFCC (Police Fire & Crime Commissioner for Essex) and Practical HR Ltd.I am very pleased to confirm that I will be presenting at their Domestic Abuse Awareness Conference in March. For more information, please see our ‘Dates for the Diary’ section along with details of our ‘Tilting the Axis’ webinar for April (there may even be a few places left for today’s session at 10am if you want to check here) and link to book a place to join Lucy for the ‘Women in Business’ panel and Q&A session – a celebration of International Women’s Day.

We were also delighted to have a Registered Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) join us for two pilot training sessions. We will continue to look at how we can ensure our training is accessible to people across our communities and act on feedback to improve our offering.

This month, research within our Survivors Symposium continues into ‘male culture around domestic abuse’. This was discussed at our last Symposium but there were so many interesting thoughts and insights, that we felt this conversation should continue into this month. We are hoping to produce a survey following this session which will be sent out within our next monthly update.

Take care and we hope to see you at one of our next training sessions

Lucy Whittaker

Dates for the Diary

Chartered Banker Institute Webcast

The webcast “Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Abuse through the Workplace” was held on 2 February 2022 and hosted by the Chartered Banker Institute.  Lucy was joined by Young Banker of the Year 2021 Winner Rosie Lyon, who is also a member of our Survivor Symposium.

The webcast looked at the impact of domestic abuse across our communities and workforces whilst also exploring the complex dynamics that sometimes underpin and fuel different types of domestic abuse.  We also looked at the importance of embedding a strong workplace culture of understanding.

Rosie also talked about her personal experience of financial abuse and its consequences, as well as talking about her Young Banker of the Year idea.

Watch the webcast in full below or for a full synopsis of the webcast click here.

Responding to Domestic Abuse in the Private Rental Sector

Domestic Abuse affects 1 in 5 adults and is as prevalent in private rental properties as it is within social housing.  Whilst a private landlord isn’t expected to be as ‘hands on’ as a social housing landlord, there are some ways in which they can better spot the signs and respond at an earlier point.

Spotting the signs earlier helps to prevent potential rent arrears, damage to property, safeguarding issues, eviction that often result in lengthy court processes.  Importantly, it also helps to save lives.

The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) alongside Alpha Vesta have produced some resources for the Private Rental Sector around domestic abuse which includes a podcast and animation.  They are available to view here https://setdab.org/resource/resources-for-private-rented-sector-landlords/

As Alpha Vesta is a member of the SETDAB Reference Group, we are keen to get your thoughts around the resources produced and to hear from anyone with experience in this area, as your insight is incredibly important us. 

Please contact us here responding to the following questions:

1. We’d like to know if you would find the resources helpful?
2. What additional information you might like?
3. Whether we could offer you any support in this area.

Our work is fully-funded across Essex by The National Lottery and Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner and so there is no cost to you.

Domestic Abuse: in the news

• Domestic abuse survivor urges others to get police help (link)
• Domestic abuse: average of 669 child protection referrals a day last year (link)
• Domestic Abuse Act 2021: overarching factsheet (link)
• More support for domestic abuse victims to rebuild their lives: £125 million to enable local authorities in England to meet their duties to provide support in safe accommodation for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.  These duties were brought in as part of the new Domestic Abuse act 2021 (link)

National Support & Help

National 24hr Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 For women and children experiencing domestic abuse

Men’s Advice Line 0808 801 0327 For men experiencing domestic abuse

RESPECT 0808 802 4040 For those concerned that they may be using abusive behaviours

NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 If you are concerned about a child

Samaritans 116 123 For those struggling in terms of their mental health and feeling in crisis

NCDV 0800 970 2070 free, fast emergency injunction service for survivors of domestic abuse

Essex Regional Support & Help

Alpha Vesta 01245 791281 For employers and employees concerned about a staff member

Compass 0330 333 7 444 Compass is being delivered by a consortium of established domestic abuse support agencies including; Safe Steps, Changing Pathways and The Next Chapter. The aim is to provide a single point of access for callers to speak with a trained member of staff who will complete an assessment and ensure contact is made with the most appropriate support service.

The Change Project 01245 258 680 Committed to preventing conflict in relationships and working with both perpetrators, victims and their children.