IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services) is the largest domestic abuse and sexual violence charity in the North of England. The charity, along with leading specialist partners, has recently secured funding from the Ministry of Justice to deliver trauma-informed training to ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advocates) and service managers across the North of England.
This investment in the North will provide vital training for frontline workers to equip them with the tools to recognise and respond to trauma in survivors of sexual violence and provide managers with best practice for embedding trauma-informed working across their teams.
IDAS recently formed the Northern Training Consortium (NTC) along with well-respected northern organisations Wearside Women in Need (WWIN), My Sister’s Place, Leeds Women’s Aid, The Pankhurst Trust and The Halo Project. This collaborative project will benefit from the shared expertise of organisations who play a pivotal role in tackling violence against women and girls. The Consortium will jointly create this training project to train 400 ISVAs and 60 Managers throughout the life of the project.
Violence against women and girls is especially prevalent in the north of England, and this combined with large areas of deprivation and economic decline can create additional challenges for survivors of abuse. The experience of sexual violence can be hugely traumatic for survivors, and it is crucially important that professionals are able to respond to the impacts of trauma symptoms to effectively support people and help them to move forward safely with their lives.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 23 March 2023, ONS website, article, Sexual offences victim characteristics, England and Wales: year ending March 2022 states that Police recorded crime data by region shows that the highest rate of sexual offences in the year ending March 2022 was recorded in the North East (3.7 per 1,000 population; Figure 7). Closely followed by the North West (3.6 per 1,000 population), Yorkshire & Humber (3.4 per 1,000) along with the West and East Midlands.
Kerry Griffiths, Training Manager for IDAS says, “The data is concerning, sexual violence is devastating lives, and we know that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg as many people do not report to the Police. ISVA’s play a vital role supporting survivors, whether they report to the Police, or not. We are very excited to get started on this project alongside our sister organisations, which promises to shine a light on the value of partnership working in the VAWG sector. Through providing this innovative training to staff and managers in the north of England, we hope to actively address the trauma faced by survivors of sexual violence and promote safety and recovery."
Becky Rogerson, the Director from WWiN based in Sunderland, welcomes the investment, “This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside the strong services we have in the North of England, sharing practice and ideas to strengthen our approach to address sexual violence across the region.”
Nik Peasgood, from local partner organisation, Leeds Women’s Aid, welcomes the investment “this is great for northern specialist services to showcase the expertise and skills we have and share that with other organisations in developing, supporting and training essential ISVAs and managers in supporting those experiencing sexual violence. Our collaborative approach is key when delivering work like this as shared knowledge, support and collective learning is a successful way of investing in our sector.”
Yasmin Khan from Halo Project Charity welcomes the investment as this represents the commitment to support black and minoritised women. “I am profoundly grateful for the invaluable support we have received in securing funding for a dedicated BME Sexual Violence Advocate. This marks a crucial milestone in our ongoing commitment to providing tailored, survivor-centric support within our communities.
Our work has always been driven by the urgent need to address the unique challenges faced by Black and Minority Ethnic survivors. This funding not only enables us to expand our advocacy services but also signifies a collective acknowledgment of the barriers BME survivors often encounter in seeking justice and support.
In the wake of the recent HMICFRS police super-complaint, which brought to light systemic failings in police investigations, our resolve to advocate for change is unwavering.
This is not just financial support; it is a powerful endorsement of our collective mission to break down barriers, challenge inequalities, and build a future where survivors of sexual violence receive the justice and support, they deserve. Together, we will continue to amplify the voices of those who have been unheard for far too long."
Natalia Ayuso, Training Manager, The Pankhurst Trust (Incorporating Manchester Women’s Aid), says, “With funding from the Ministry of Justice, we are proud to be part of the Northern Training Consortium delivering high quality training to ISVAs. The statistics are concerning and belie an even greater prevalence of sexual assault in our society. We are an experienced training provider, and we look forward to working in conjunction with other organisations, headed by IDAS to equip ISVAs in best practice, CPD and trauma-informed sessions and tackle this injustice with our dedicated partners.”
Lesley Storey, from local partner organisation, My Sisters Place, welcomes the investment, “It’s great to be part of such an important project working in partnership with other trauma informed providers from across the North of the country”
IDAS looks forward to delivering this much-needed training to workers across the north, and we are thrilled to be doing this in partnership with our sister organisations. We will be communicating regular updates as training plans are finalised.