4 new employers receive Everyone’s Business Domestic Abuse Award

4 new employers receive Everyone’s Business Domestic Abuse Award

Today, 4 new organisations have become recipients of the Everyone’s Business accreditation recognising their efforts in supporting their employees who may be experiencing domestic abuse. The organisations receiving the award are:

• Wandle Housing (the first housing association to receive the award)
• Balfour Beatty (the first construction company to receive the award)
• Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshir
• Hestia (the first charity to receive the award)

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime. 75% of those experiencing domestic abuse are targeted at work. 

The award forms part of Everyone’s Business, a programme of support to employers delivered in partnership between Hestia, UK SAYS NO MORE, Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse, The Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Abuse, Cardiff Women’s Aid, Surviving Economic Abuse, Woman’s Trust, Bulbshare and TecSOS.  

To achieve the Everyone’s Business Award, organisations had to meet a range of criteria to demonstrate what they were doing to support their employees. This includes a domestic abuse policy for staff experiencing domestic abuse, specialist domestic abuse awareness training and supporting a network of champions within the organisation who can signpost to support.

The awarding panellists includes consultants from across business and domestic abuse, including Claire Bethel (Chair) – Director, The Way Ahead Team, Mark Eades – Interim Head of HR Business Partnering for National Infections Service, Public Health England, Katrina Hill – previously for Corporate Alliance, Vanessa Coutinho – consultant work in charity sector and Adrian Thwaites.

Elizabeth Filkin CBE, Chair of the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse said:

“It is so encouraging to see employers receiving awards for their excellent work ensuring that they can provide support to employees facing domestic abuse. The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse sends them congratulations on this achievement.”

Patrick Ryan, Chief Executive at Hestia said:

“Businesses have a unique role to play in breaking the silence around domestic abuse and ensuring victims can access the help and support they need. The Covid-19 crisis has compounded that, with employers now often the only point of contact for victims. For too long domestic abuse has been nobody’s business. We are delighted to be working in partnership with employers across the UK to make sure it becomes Everyone’s Business.”

A total of 11 employers have now received the Everyone’s Business Award, including the Metropolitan Police and EY. Many other large employers are now working towards the next award round which will be in Autumn 2021.

-ENDS-  

About Hestia: 

At Hestia we support adults and children in times of crisis. We deliver services across London and the surrounding regions, as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.  Last year we supported 10,766 men, women and children. 

This includes victims of modern slavery, women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, young care leavers and older people. From giving someone a home, to helping them to get the right mental health support, we support people at the moment of crisis and enable them to build a life beyond a crisis. We are supported by nearly 600 volunteers across London who provide specialist skills such as art therapy, yoga, IT, gardening and cooking, as well as befriending and fundraising. 

We are proud to be the home of UK SAYS NO MORE, bringing together a diverse coalition of individuals, charities, businesses and public sector organisations to campaign for an end to domestic abuse and sexual violence.

About Everyone’s Business:  

Everyone’s Business puts 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. 

Since the programme launched, Everyone’s Business has supported over 60 employers and reached over 300,000 employees with domestic abuse messaging.