‘Ask Me’ - Change That Lasts
The ‘community’ is often the first to know about domestic abuse. But lack of understanding and confidence can make people afraid to bring it up, and unsure of how to respond when someone tells them about it.
We are changing that. Our Change That Lasts Ask Me project is creating a team of Community Ambassadors to raise awareness of domestic abuse and create safe environments so that survivors feel able to speak out. They play a key role in signposting to services that specialise in domestic abuse – the refuges, helplines and outreach services. A Community Ambassador can be anyone who engages with people in their local area – it doesn’t have to be through work.
We will provide Community Ambassadors with the knowledge and skills to foster safe communities and have conversations that count. They will help survivors to talk about abuse without fear and shame, and challenge a culture that silences women.
The Change That Lasts Ask Me scheme offers a free two-day training course to inspire community members to become a Community Ambassador. The ambassadors will share what they have learnt with their friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and challenge myths, stereotypes and victim-blaming attitudes in their community. They will learn how to respond to a disclosure and about the expert services they can signpost people to for help.
There are two reasons for signing up:
• you might be an individual who has great reach into your local community; or
• you might be part of a business, signing up on behalf of your workplace
For further information, please refer to the leaflet here and here, and also email info@coventryhaven.co.uk for details of the free training course dates and availability.
FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF OUR AMBASSADORS
1) " I feel ready and excited to begin my new role as a community ambassador.”
2) “It furthered my understanding of survivors viewpoints.”
3) “Sarah was a brilliant facilitator, she encouraged discussions and made everyone feel safe.”
4) “I now feel able to take on this important role in my own way.”
5) “I have learnt so much more than I had expected, I could now confidently deal with a conversation about domestic abuse.”
6) “The open discussions made each individual person feel valued.”
7) “The whole group was confident around each other and the space felt safe to be in.”
8) “It taught me that there was no shame in the empowerment of a survivor.”
9) “I was able to meet some really inspirational people who didn’t judge.”
10) “The training was excellent and covered all aspects of domestic violence and abuse.”
11) “I was able to communicate the issue of domestic abuse within the various networks I engage with.”
12) “I now feel more confident to start a conversation without thinking that I would upset a survivor”
13) “Excellent eye opening, awareness raising training for all of the community ambassadors.”
14) “The facilitators are great listeners, it was a great experience.”
15) “I am feeling so good about how I can make more awareness.”
16) “I have the confidence now to start a conversation with anyone, not just friends.”
17) “I felt it was a really supportive environment.”
18) “I feel like I understood how to appropriately respond and recognise how to help people who ask me questions about domestic abuse.”
19) “I think this programme is an amazing thing which, if nationally recognised could help to save the lives of women and challenge the myths and stereotypes people have around domestic abuse.”
20) “This training was extremely informative, the trainers were knowledgeable and open to challenges which was really helpful”
21) “I’m excited to see the changes we make over communities, cultures and genders.”
22) “I have a greater understanding of the predicament of which the survivors face and how difficult it is for them to leave.”
23) “I have learnt so much and now feel more capable, empowered and right.”
24) “The men here were so engaged which shows that stereotypes are being challenged.”
25) “It has given me the confidence to speak to survivors and respond appropriately.”