Monday 15^th July 2019:

Today, employees at Hestia, a domestic abuse charity in London, will be given 10 days paid leave by the charity if they personally experience domestic abuse. The policy, which is a first within the sector, will allow staff time off to access specialist support, regain stability and begin to recover from their trauma during the working day.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. 3 in 4 of those victims of domestic abuse will be targeted whilst at work. Yet 90% of victims never tell their employer and only 5% of businesses have a domestic policy in place for staff to access and seek support from.

The policy follows the recent work of Hestia’s Everyone’s Business programme, funded by the Government’s Tampon Tax to provide some of the UK’s most forward thinking employers to access to bespoke support for domestic abuse affecting their employees.

Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive at Hestia said:

“Employers have a unique role to play in breaking the silence around domestic abuse and ensuring victims can access the help and support they need. If an employer believes that none of their staff are victims, they need to think again. Hestia is joining a small but growing number of employers who are making this additional support available for their staff.  For too long domestic abuse has been nobody’s business and it is time it becomes everyone’s business.” 

-ENDS-

Notes to editor: 

About Hestia: 

At Hestia, we support adults and children across London in times of crisis. Last year we worked with more than 9,000 people including women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, victims of modern slavery, young care leavers and older people. From giving someone a home to helping them to get the right mental health support, we support and enable people at the moment of crisis.

 Hestia is one of the largest provider of domestic abuse refuges in London and last year we supported 3,657 people to recover from the trauma of domestic abuse including 668 children. We provide families refuge accommodation, dedicated children and family support, IDVA (Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates) and MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Centre) support and community group support. 

Hestia is also the home of UK SAYS NO MORE, a national campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence across the UK.

About Everyone’s Business: 

Everyone’s Business is a new innovative cross-partnership programme putting employers at the heart of tackling domestic abuse and providing them with the tools they need to recognise and prevent domestic abuse, be prepared to receive disclosures and actively respond and speedily support employees who are experiencing or perpetrating domestic abuse.

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