Former victims of domestic violence will send a message of hope – and provide a much-needed training tool for people who work with sufferers – when a new DVD is launched.
The DVD, called Survivors' Stories, will feature accounts from survivors of domestic violence and is the result of partnership working between Babergh Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum and Babergh District Council.
It is hoped the DVD, which is to be used primarily as a training, educational and awareness raising tool, will be rolled out across the UK after its launch on November 26th.
The DVD is the first in the UK to be simultaneously launched online – through the Forum’s new website - with people unable to make the event able to watch proceedings via web streaming coming live from the launch in Babergh’s council chamber.
The Forum has also been using social networking sites Facebook and MySpace to boost the DVD’s profile.
The launch of the DVD has been timed to coincide with national White Ribbon Day, a day that aims to raise the awareness of domestic violence and campaign for the elimination of violence against women.
Ann Scott, Babergh’s Community Safety Officer, said: “Even in today’s modern society domestic violence is a taboo subject and not really talked about that much.
“We hope that by raising awareness in this way that more victims will feel able to break out of the destructive cycle of domestic violence – and that the people who work with them will be better equipped to identify domestic violence and offer the support needed.”
And Cathy Press, project leader and Chair of Babergh Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum, added: “Every single person who took part wanted to tell their story in the hope that it might help just one other person.
“The interviews are frank, moving accounts of real people, real stories and real lives. This is an exciting project and the launch promises to be new and innovative in its approach - particularly with the virtual launch.”
Babergh is also hosting a domestic violence and personal safety awareness day on November 22nd in Sudbury.
Information, self-defence demonstrations and advice on how to get help if you are a victim of domestic violence – or know someone who might be – will be handed out from 10am until 2pm, outside the Town Hall.
If you are a practitioner who would be interested in using the DVD as a training tool please contact Babergh’s community safety team by emailing: community@babergh.gov.uk.
For more information, please visit the pre-launch website at www.person-centred-consultancies.com/page22.htm or call Ann Scott, Community Safety Officer on (01473) 826616. ENDS
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