New funds to tackle domestic abuse in Wigan

The £175,000 secured to support local work is on top of a share of £1,082,129 from the Home Office, which will be used to expand existing programmes in Wigan as well as Manchester, Salford and Stockport.

And it is in addition to Wigan Council’s own three-year £1.2m investment designed to support domestic abuse victims in the borough through the DIAS Domestic Violence Centre.

Coun Paula Wakefield, Wigan Council’s lead member for equalities and domestic abuse said: “We’ve always made it a priority to ensure that those experiencing domestic abuse can access help and understand the options available to them.

“However, we need to place a larger focus on the source of the abuse itself by working with perpetrators to change their behaviour.

“This funding is thanks to a group effort between a number of local authority areas and TLC: Talk, Listen Change.

“The work they deliver will be vital, especially during current times where spending more time at home can place extra pressures on those in abusive relationships.

“We hope that being preventative in our approach will prevent more people experiencing domestic abuse.”

The work includes charity, TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, delivering a series of programmes addressing the behaviour of domestic abuse perpetrators.

This will include one-to-one sessions with female perpetrators in heterosexual or same sex relationships and group work with heterosexual men.

The charity will also focus on preventing domestic abuse involving young people by looking at adolescents in relationships and child on parent abuse.

Michelle Hill, chief executive officer of TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, said: “We are delighted to have received the Home Office funding which will expand our existing domestic abuse prevention work and enable us to work with Greater Manchester Combined Authority and partners in Manchester, Salford, Stockport and Wigan Councils to increase our reach with new services.

“For over 10 years we have worked to deliver behaviour change programmes for perpetrators which address the cause of domestic abuse and prioritise the safety of victims, survivors and children.

“We have always envisioned a future that developed this work further and thanks to this funding, not only will existing services expand, but for the first time we will be able to work with people who do not have English as a first language and men in same-sex relationships.

“It also provides the opportunity to work in an innovative way with young people who have experienced domestic abuse, which will set them up for a safer and healthier future.

“Now, more than ever, we believe this work is absolutely vital.”

TLC: Talk, Listen, Change will also work individually with gay and bisexual men, as well as men and women who have English as a second language.

The funding will pay for the following programmes:

Children and young people – The Respect Young People’s Programme for child to parent abuse and a programme for adolescent perpetrators;

Female perpetrators – one-to-one programme delivery for female perpetrators in heterosexual or same sex relationships;

Male perpetrators – one-to-one programme for gay and bisexual men and Bridging to Change group behaviour change programme for male perpetrators in heterosexual relationships;

Perpetrators who speak English as a second language – Respect one-to-one programme for perpetrators (male or female) who speak English as a second language.

A virtual Candlelight Vigil will also be taking place on the final day of global activism on December 10 (Human Rights Day) and people can join in by downloading a profile picture or video for their social media platforms to remember the more than two women a week murdered in the UK by their partner, ex-partner or family member, here.

Anyone in Wigan borough experiencing domestic abuse can call a dedicated helpline on 01942 311365 between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.

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