As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I would like to highlight the issue of domestic abuse, a crime which can affect anyone in any relationship, but is particularly recognised as a gendered crime, because most victims and survivors of abuse are women. 

Domestic abuse involves any single incident or pattern of conduct where someone’s behaviour towards another is abusive, and where the people involved are aged 16 or over and are, or have been, personally connected to each other – regardless of gender or sexuality.

The abuse can involve – but is not limited to – psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional, threatening and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The Isle of Wight is rightly proud of its strong sense of community and it is through working together as an island community that we can tackle domestic abuse. A community response means working in partnership to listen and respond to survivors of domestic abuse, having effective education about healthy relationships from a young age, ensuring that Island workforces are skilled in responding appropriately to people subjected to current and past domestic abuse, and providing specialist services to support people identified to be at higher risk from abuse and to address abusive behaviours.

Paragon are commissioned, by our public health team, to work across the Island providing dedicated trauma informed support to adults and children from all communities who are subjected to domestic abuse.

They provide practical and emotional support alongside refuge, safe accommodation, community outreach and IDVA support, counselling, and recovery group work, move on and resettlement services and training. Paragon are based on the Island, and can be contacted on 0800 234 6266 or email paragoniow@theyouthtrust.org.uk

If you’re at risk of domestic abuse, remember the Silent Solution. In danger, need the police, but can’t speak? You can still make yourself heard. The Silent Solution system enables a mobile caller who is too scared to make a noise, or speak, to press 55 when prompted. This lets the police know the person has a genuine emergency.

There’s more advice at iow.gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/domestic-abuse/.

No one agency, service or community can respond alone, but by increasing awareness about domestic abuse we can respond to it effectively together. Don’t suffer in silence; help is available.