Kirklees Council has approved £400k of funding to tackle domestic abuse across the borough with five new roles being created to train staff from frontline council services, as well as partner and voluntary organisations.
The domestic abuse consultants and community engagement roles will upskill staff to increase confidence in supporting families affected by domestic abuse.
They will also equip staff with the skills needed to reduce the impact domestic abuse has on children and young people.
The consultant’s roles will have a key focus on building relationships and empowering community groups and organisations to recognise the signs of domestic abuse.
At the same time, it will also increase the community’s confidence in supporting families and ensuring that they are well connected to local support networks.
As part of the engagement element of the roles, they will engage victims that are under-represented in council services, such as those from the LGBT+, BAME, disabled and older and younger communities.
Survivor forums will be established as part of the funding to ensure that those with lived experience can feed into communications and engagement work, while also helping to tailor the training delivered by consultants.
Kirklees Council said that the forums will represent the diversity of Kirklees’ communities.
Commenting, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet Member for Democracy and Housing, Councillor Cathy Scott said: “This funding has the potential to make a significant difference to all of our communities in Kirklees.
“By investing in consultant roles who can then dedicate their time to training our communities, we are creating a sustainable programme of work that will have a long-term impact.
“Engaging with communities and specifically working with those who have lived experience to help us tailor our training, communications and engagement is vital in making sure we are delivering the appropriate messages in the most suitable way.
“Domestic abuse is a truly dreadful crime that ruins the lives of the victim, but also in some cases, their children. I fully support this funding and I’m thankful my colleagues see the potential this funding has in protecting our Kirklees residents.”
