The South Eastern Trust, in collaboration with several organisations, came together to host a workshop aimed at supporting over 20 Domestic Abuse Champions in a bid to combat Domestic Abuse. These Champions have been instrumental in providing vital support and guidance to staff across the South Eastern Trust who are affected by Domestic Abuse, reinforcing the Trust’s commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for all employees.
Domestic Abuse affects one in four women and one in six men at some point in their lives. Recognising the profound impact this can have on people, the Trust is committed to addressing this critical issue. Many staff members, living and working within the Trust, have experienced, or are currently experiencing, or may face domestic abuse in the future.
The recent workshop provided an invaluable platform for the Domestic Abuse Champions to enhance their skills, share experiences and strengthen their network of support. These Champions play a crucial role in the workplace, offering a safe space for staff members to seek help and guidance. The Trust acknowledges the difficulty many individuals face in speaking out about their experiences, particularly in a professional setting. As such, the creation of a peer support group within the Trust has been a step forward in ensuring that all staff have access to the support they need.
Domestic Abuse Champion, Emma Nellis highlighted the importance of the role and said, “When the policy was launched that Friday, I was contacted the following Tuesday by a member of staff. We were able to resolve the issues that she was having. It struck me to have someone, a peer, that they could approach and talk to in confidence, is so important and to have that support with no judgement.”
Steven McNeill who is also a Domestic Abuse Champion added, “We have a good mix of staff and we are trying to skill up the best we can. The Trust has 15,000 members of staff, so we want to have a wide range of staff available to provide support and direct each other to the most appropriate skill set. When you look at the scope and scale of Domestic Abuse in Northern Ireland, anything we can be doing as an organisation is essential to provide support to those that need it most.”
Chair of the South Eastern Area Domestic & Sexual Violence and Abuse Partnership, Sheila Simons expressed her gratitude for the dedication of the Domestic Abuse Champions, stating, “Within the Trust, we are trying to create a peer support network because it is very difficult for staff to speak out and talk about their experiences.
“To support our workplace policy that we launched in March 2024, we brought all our Domestic Champions together for a workshop, so they could become familiar with each other and to help create that peer support group. We also had a range of experts attend the workshop to discuss relevant issues to help support staff fulfil their role as a Champion.
”We have 20 Champions across the South Eastern Trust and we hope to recruit more. We want to make sure every service and directorate is represented. We want to create a supportive and understanding workplace. Champions provide an essential service, offering peer support and guidance to those who may feel isolated or unable to speak out about their experiences. This workshop has empowered our Champions with the knowledge and tools they need to continue their vital work.”
