IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New digital employees’ portal for victims of domestic abuse 

Monday 1 April 2019: Today, a new online portal has launched for businesses in England and Wales to provide support to their staff who may be experiencing domestic abuse.  Developed by domestic abuse charity Hestia and technology company, Bulbshare, companies will now be able to provide bespoke support to their staff.

The portal is part of Everyone’s Business, an innovative cross-partnership programme putting employers at the heart of tackling domestic abuse. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, with 3 in 4 of those victims targeted at work. Yet nearly 90% of victims never tell their employer and only 5% of businesses have a domestic abuse policy.

The new portal will include the company’s HR polices around domestic abuse, information about dedicated staff champions who are trained to listen and signpost to services, as well as tools such as self-assessments to help understand their situation and contact information for nearby specialist support services.

The portal also has dedicated sections for those concerned about a friend, family member or colleague, as well as a specific page for those concerned about their own behaviour. The portal is free for all businesses signed up to Everyone’s Business, which received initial funding from the Government’s Tampon Tax Fund.   

Patrick Ryan, CEO of 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.  Since the launch of Everyone’s Business we have been delighted to see so many leading businesses step forward to put effective policies and practices in place to ensure the workplace becomes a place of safety for victims of domestic abuse. We hope that this flexible and easy to use digital portal, which we have developed in close partnership with businesses, provides an effective way to get the right, potentially life-saving, information to staff.   

-ENDS-  

Notes to Editor: 

In the next phase, the portal will launch nationwide. For organisations interested in receiving access to the portal, please contact [email protected]  

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. 

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 providers 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. 

www.hestia.org 

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