SALFORD RESIDENTS INVITED TO COME AND CHAT ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE

A bright yellow sofa – part of the Greater Manchester-wide Does that sit right with you? campaign designed to raise awareness of domestic abuse and let people know help is available to tackle it – will be visiting the city on Friday December 7.

Volunteers from Salford Independent Domestic Abuse Advice Service who can advise on how to handle individual situations will be on hand to offer advice and support when the sofa visits Salford Shopping Precinct between 10am and 4pm.

They can help both men and women who are experiencing abuse or advise family and friends of people who suspect abuse is taking place.

Councillor David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety,  said:

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“Domestic abuse can be anything from violence and threats of violence to controlling behaviour such as denying someone access to money, cutting them off from their friends and threatening that if they tell anyone their children will be taken into care.

“It can happen to anyone and, sadly, in Salford, there seems to be a culture of acceptance of it. Very often family and friends know it’s going on but don’t know what help is available so they try to protect the victim instead of approaching the authorities.

“Domestic abuse is not acceptable full stop. There is no justification at all for such behaviour and there is help available for perpetrators who are willing to change.

“There is no reason for anyone to put up with it, particularly if they have children who will be traumatised by what they see.

“Help is available with everything from excluding the abuser from the home, to making homes safer or moving victims to safe places.”

 

National statistics show that six in every 100 adults are likely to have experienced domestic abuse, with women twice as likely to be victims than men. The problem is hugely under-reported and Salford City Council’s campaign aims to encourage more people to come forward.

Anyone unable to visit on Friday can get help from  http://salfordwomensaid.org/ which helps both women and men or call Salford Women’s Aid Helpline on  0161 793 3232 Monday to Friday 1pm to 4pm or the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline - Freephone 0808 2000 247.

Please call 999 if you are in immediate danger.