About The Seminar

Isolation, poverty and the close-knit social structure of villages and small towns can all make it difficult for victims of domestic abuse to access help or plan an escape route. From a service provider viewpoint, the fact that victims are dispersed over large areas means budgets are stretched and joined up working has extra challenges.

In recent years the profile of domestic violence has undoubtedly risen. While much of the focus has been on getting the criminal justice system to punish abusers, there is also a clear need for better support services for victims in some areas.

The Women’s Institute, which has a large rural membership, commissioned a report into domestic violence against women in both urban and rural areas; this report, Violence Against Women in Rural and Urban Areas, co-authored by Dr Melanie McCarry and Dr Emma Williamson of Bristol University, was published in May 2009. This highlighted both differences and similarities between urban and rural women’s experiences. But their responses to domestic violence were not always the same, and these differences have implications for service provision.

Alcohol and drug misuse is one of the most signifcant drivers of domestic violence in rural areas, and a link-up between substance misuse and domestic vioelnce services is essential.

Service providers who are not associated with ‘authority’ - such as health professionals and Sure Start staff - have a particularly valuable role as a first point of contact for rural victims of domestic violence. This is one key reason why a partnership approach and joined up working are so valuable in supporting victims.

This seminar will:

• explore further the findings of Violence Against Women in Rural and Urban Areas and its implications for rural service provision
• hear how police forces across the country are working with other services to address rural domestic violence
• provide examples of successful domestic violence services running in rural areas
• hear about the incidence of domestic violence in Gypsy and Traveller communities and how this is starting to be addressed

Speakers

• Dianna Broadmeadow, Domestic Abuse Manager, Lincolnshire County Council
• Dr Melanie McCarry, University of Bristol; co-author of the report Violence Against Women in Rural and Urban Areas (commissioned by the National Federation of Women's Institutes)
• Amanda Coates, Community Safety Partnership, North Yorkshire
• Liz Turnbull and Julie Ashton, Domestic Violence Accommodation Project, East Riding
• Brigid Branney, Specialist Domestic Violence Officer, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
• Dina Holder, Manager, Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Cornwall
• Cara Longford and Michelle Plaisted-Kerr, Domestic Abuse Champions Coordinators, Oxfordshire County Council
• Carmel Napier, Deputy Chief Constable, Gwent Police;new ACPO Spokesperson on Domestic Violence