January 29, 2016

Interesting Article – Salon Saviours, Wolverhampton.

In my regular trawl of the internet looking for interesting facts, new legislation etc on domestic abuse, I stumbled across the attached.https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/salon-saviours-wolverhampton-hairdressers-trained-spot-signs-domestic-abuse-customers-1540824

What an ingenious idea! I have tried this before, without success. When developing the IDV service for Westminster, London, in 2004, I visited lots of hairdressers asking them to advertise the new IDVA service in their salons. I met with horror and much anxiety. “We don’t want to put our clients off coming here”, most of them said! I returned to the drawing board with tail between my legs!

Surely, establishments where mainly only women frequent is the ideal place to advertise such services. A safe haven. We all talk to our hairdressers about things that we wouldn’t normally discuss with just anyone – don’t we? I know I do! So I was really pleased to see that this initiative is at work in Wolverhampton and that salons have signed up to it. I will be sure to keep an eye out to see how they get on.

I first met Sharon back in 2000 when I went into a refuge she worked in after fleeing a violent relationship. I had two babies and virtually just a bag of clothes and a few toys with us. She helped me with appointments with the police, solicitors and..

A survivor of domestic abuse.

I was fortunate enough to meet and work with Sharon when she was the Advocacy Manager at Woman’s Trust and I was working for Westminster City Council. During this time Sharon developed and managed the Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service..

Ainslie O’Connor – Principal Advisor for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet – Adelaide, Australia.

Thank you so much for all the support you have given me. You really have been amazing, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to cope with Child Protection without you. The amount of strength you have given me is totally priceless, even with..

A survivor of domestic abuse.

I knew Sharon as a work colleague over ten years ago. At the time, she was supporting vulnerable people, some of them were homeless due to domestic abuse and substance misuse. For me, assisting such people was what anyone in her role would be expect..

Ted Chanza, Head of Market Operations, Airtel Malawi Ltd, Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa.

I have known Sharon for 6 years and have had the pleasure of working alongside her when I chaired the Westminster MARAC. Sharon is a committed, empathetic supporter of women who are or have experienced domestic abuse. She regularly goes the extra m..

Former Chair of The Westminster MARAC.

I was fortunate to have had Sharon as my support worker after 17 years of domestic violence and 4 children that had witnessed and gone through it with me. I was finally strong enough to stand up and protect myself and my children. Without Sharon’s ..

A survivor of domestic violence.

Without the support and constant reassurance of Sharon, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am forever grateful to her. She is extremely dedicated and knowledgeable, having her on my side when dealing with someone as persistent..

Anonymous survivor of Domestic Abuse.

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