A charity in the city of Leeds, in the UK, has helped teenage girls aged 13 to 19 years old to put on a hard-hitting exhibition of art work – aimed at raising awareness of domestic abuse.

Poster from the exhibition

All the young women involved in the exhibition have either been in abusive or controlling relationships, have witnessed domestic violence or are at risk of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The theme of the exhibition is ‘the meaning of healthy relationships’ and its part of an ongoing project run by the charity re’new.

The project gives young women the chance to join in with weekly mentoring and guidance sessions at the charity – in a small group of around eight girls.

The girls use the group to explore their personal standards in relationships and share their own experiences.

The charity told the Guardian newspaper recently that the project gives girls a source of peer support and has equipped them to help friends they know who are also locked in unhealthy relationships.

The exhibition has come out of this group work and features powerful posters aimed at reaching out to even more young women.

The art work has been on display at the charity to an audience of invited guests but it’s hoped that it’ll go on public display at the Leeds Art Gallery very soon.

The project has been funded by the local Area Community Safety Partnership.

To read the full story: Teenage Girls Look At Healthy Relationships Through Leeds Exhibition

The Spire partners from Greece, Spain, Sweden and the UK met recently in Hersonissos, Crete with the aim of increasing their understanding of how domestic abuse is tackled there.

One of the key missions of the Spire project is for countries to learn from one another, with the goal of improving the way that domestic abuse is dealt with.

The partners met with the Hersonissos Women’s Association, which is similar to the Women’s Institute in the UK. The Association plays a central role in helping to fund a shelter for abused women in nearby Heraklion, the only refuge of its kind in Crete and one of only five in Greece as a whole. However, there are plans to build another 13 shelters in the near future.

The partners also learnt more about issues such as sexual abuse in the family, family violence and the impact of trafficking in Greece, all of which can be connected to domestic abuse.

In addition, the partners met with the Head of Social Services in Hersonissos to find out more about how the department is tackling domestic abuse in the area.

Patrick Conrad from Spire UK says:

“By working together, we’re discovering that there are many similarities when it comes to domestic violence in rural areas, irrespective of different languages, cultures and social concerns.

For example, a recurring problem for rural women experiencing domestic abuse is isolation and difficulty in accessing support services, such as shelters.

It’s also becoming clear what a major role the community and voluntary sector plays in different countries, as the example of the Hersonissos Women’s Association shows.”

In addition, the Spire partners reported on the progress that is being made in each country.

In the UK, the Spire project has been raising awareness of domestic abuse in the largely rural area of Leicestershire, working alongside community groups, faith organisations, schools and colleges.

In addition, a hard-hitting play about domestic abuse, commissioned by Spire, has been touring the area, with performances aimed at both the general public and specialist audiences. For example, ‘frontline’ staff dealing with domestic abuse including the police and health sector professionals.

In Greece, Spire has formed a good relationship with local groups including the Women’s Association in Hersonissos, which has helped to raise awareness of domestic abuse. For example, Spire and the Women’s Association have organised a Christmas Bazaar and Women’s Day event, designed to get women talking about the issues whilst providing them with relevant information.

Plus, Greece has formed close partnerships with schools, parent teacher associations and other community organisations, such as a care centre for the elderly. They’ve  also used radio and television to good effect, which has helped to raise awareness of domestic abuse throughout Crete.

Spire Sweden has been working with all sections of the community in the rural area of Hjo, including young people, the business community, female and male groups and politicians. Future events in Sweden include a conference, employers’ forum, awareness raising in schools and media interviews.

Similarly, Spire Spain has been reaching out to different sections of the community in rural Puerto Lumbreras, including primary school children. For example, Spain has organised a competition for school children, linked to International Women’s Day, to design an awareness raising sticker. The winning sticker was then produced and displayed around the Municipality.

Like Spire UK, Spain has also been using drama as a way of creating interest in the issue, including theatre performances and a public screening of a film about the role of women in Spain. In the future, Spire Spain is also planning to run training sessions for women who have experienced domestic abuse and their families.

Many people are looking forward to the start of the World Cup on Friday 11^th June, but in the UK the event has also been linked to a rise in the incidences of domestic abuse.

According to UK tabloid newspaper, The Sun, reports of abuse rose by nearly 30% on England match days during the 2006 World Cup (in some areas).

The link between incidences of domestic abuse and major sporting events has been well-known for some time and to tackle the problem this time round UK domestic abuse charity, Women’s Aid, has launched a new national campaign with the help of British male celebrities called ‘Real Man’.

The campaign uses the celebrities as male role models to stand up and say that violence against women is unacceptable, with the aim of encouraging men all across the UK to do the same.

Soap star Ricky Whittle

The Women’s Aid website explains:

“We are asking ‘Real Men’ to help us send out the message that ‘Real Men’ do not abuse and control women – physically, emotionally, sexually or financially.”

Men can pledge their support for the campaign by wearing one of the ‘Real Man’ campaign t-shirts, which are available for £10 from the UK store Debenhams throughout June. T-shirts are also available for women with the slogan ‘I’m a fan of a real man’.

Campaign t-shirt

Plus, you can support the campaign by signing a manifesto to end violence against women on the Women’s Aid website here.

The campaign is being backed by celebrities including TV presenter Gethin Jones, TV actor John Nettles, Soccer AM presenter Max Rushden, singer and Women’s Aid ambassador Will Young and TV soap-star Ricky Whittle.

The celebrities have been pictured wearing ‘effeminate’ props such as pink, heart-shaped sunglasses, handbags and teddy bears to challenge the stereotype of what a ‘real man’ is – supported by the headline ‘you can tell a real man by what he does, not how he looks’.

The campaign also features the headline ‘wear the shirt and help stop 2 women dying every week as a result of domestic violence’ in a bid to communicate the seriousness of the issue in the UK.

Women’s Aid Chief Executive, Nicola Harwin, told The Sun:

“We know that during big sporting events such as the World Cup there can be a rise in incidents of domestic violence, so now is a very relevant time to raise awareness.”

Actor John Nettles who’s known in the UK for his TV acting roles portraying a policeman said:

“Domestic violence is often ignored as it usually happens behind closed doors and it can seem easier not to get involved. Yet it affects one in four women during their life. It is vital that we do something to protect those victimised by abuse.”

To read the story in full: Stars kick off bid to end abuse (The Sun)

To find out more visit the Women’s Aid website.

The Guardian newspaper in the UK recently ran a story about the possible reasons why women put up with domestic violence and stay with an abusive partner.

The article was written by Carole Jahme who uses the theories of evolutionary psychology to try and shine some light on the issue.

According to evolutionary psychology, women who stay in abusive relationships often do so because they learned to live with domestic violence when growing up. Carole argues that if this is so, women experiencing domestic violence today should leave the relationship (with their children) to prevent the same thing from happening to their family.

She goes on to recognise the difficulties involved in leaving however; for example, some women are too scared to leave because their partner has threatened them with dire consequences if they do so. In addition, there are practical considerations such as having somewhere to go and a source of income.

The article also suggests that the trauma of abuse can affect how women think and that they tend to employ short-term coping strategies, such as fleeing when violence erupts but returning when their partner has said sorry.

Evolutionary psychology has an interesting point to make about male jealousy too – which often goes hand-in-hand with domestic abuse – that it evolved as a way to dominate females and assure paternity.

Carole also mentions the tendency for victims to blame themselves and how feelings such as guilt, shame and uncertainty about the future can keep women trapped.

She also mentions the tendency of some victims to pity the perpetrator, especially if he blames factors such as being made unemployed or past relationships for his behaviour.

In conclusion, the article warns it is important to understand the many different reasons why women stay in abusive relationships – it isn’t fair or realistic to just expect them to leave. Instead, Carole encourages us not to judge, but to realise that women need professional help to take a step back and self-assess their particular situation.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts and opinions by leaving a comment below.

To read the Guardian newspaper article in full: Why do so many women put up with domestic violence?

Spire UK and the South Area Domestic Abuse Forum are holding an event on Wednesday 23^rd June from 9.30am to 4.00pm at the police’s headquarters in Leicester to raise awareness of domestic abuse in Leicestershire.

The event is called ‘Break the Chain, Make the Links’ and is for ‘frontline’ professionals – in other words people such as the police, social workers and health professionals who may be the first point of contact for women experiencing domestic abuse.

The event will include workshops including the role of the police, working with victims and survivors, working with perpetrators, the impact of domestic abuse on children and the legal options open to victims and survivors.

Laura Richards, one of the UK’s leading psychologists in the field of criminal behaviour will be a guest speaker at the event, together with Judge Atkinson, a local judge who’ll be talking about the law relating to domestic abuse and what the courts can do to help.

Patrick Conrad from Spire UK explains:

“The event will offer frontline professionals the chance to learn more about domestic abuse, by exchanging practical ideas and taking part in workshops. Plus, we’ll be holding question and answer sessions.

Plus guest speaker Laura Richards will be talking about her work profiling domestic abuse offenders including stalkers – and how to gauge the risk posed by different individuals.

I’m confident the event will help to raise awareness of domestic abuse in Leicestershire, whilst giving professionals the hands-on help they need to tackle it.”

The South Area Domestic Abuse Forum is a growing partnership of organisations who are working together to raise awareness of domestic abuse in Leicestershire.

The event costs £10 per person including refreshments and a buffet lunch.

To find out more about the event or to book your place please call Jill Stevenson, Domestic Abuse Coordinator for Leicestershire on 0116 272 7637.

Download the flyer for full details: Event Flyer

Den 29 maj kommer vi genomföra vårt störta event i Hjo inom Spire-projektet.

Hjo kommun och riksorganisationen, Slagfärdiga, vars medlemmar någon gång varit utsatta för våld i nära relationer, arrangerar detta event.

Löpeld tar ställning mot våld i nära relationer genom att lyfta fram Kärlek, Mod och Goda relationer.

Deltagare är från Slagfärdiga och även lokala aktörer kommer uppträda på olika sätt bl.a. genom sång, tal och diktläsning.

Det kommer vara en panel där politiker, polisen och lokala aktörer inom våld i nära relationer debatterar.

Målgruppen är alla åldrar och samhällsklasser. För att attrahera unga kommer en känd grupp, Neverstore, att spela också.

Det här eventet har annonserats via media på olika sätt och vi hoppas att många kommer för att visa att de tar ställning mot våld i nära relationer. Tillsammans kan vi förändra!

För mer information kontakta projektledare Sabina Hualpa Blomgren.

E-mail: sabina.hualpablomgren@hjo.se

Mobil: 070-557 89 86

Download: Lopeld Event Poster in Swedish

The Spire team in Sweden is holding its biggest event to date, aimed at tackling domestic abuse in rural areas.

The event, called ‘Wildfire’ is being held in the Municipality of Hjo, Sweden on Saturday May 29^th.

Spire Project Manager Sabina Hualpa Blomgren explains:

“We’ve teamed up with a national organisation that supports victims of abuse, ‘Slagfärdiga’, to run this event. Our aim is to encourage people to focus on love, courage and good relations, instead of focusing on violence.

The event will include local actors who’ll be performing, singing and reading poems. In addition, they’ll be a panel where politicians, the police and professionals from the domestic abuse sector will be debating the issues. The famous Swedish band, ‘Neverstore’, will be playing at the event too, which I hope will help to attract young people.

Our aim is to get the whole community together, including people of all ages and from all social groups, so that together we can take a stand against domestic abuse – and make a change.”

Download the event poster in Swedish: Wildfire Event Poster

For more information contact Sabina Hualpa Blomgren.

E-mail: sabina.hualpablomgren@hjo.se

Mobile phone: +46 (0)70-557 89 86

Spire UK is funding a unique show called Apple Pie Order in Market Harborough on Thursday 27th May and it’s absolutely FREE to attend!

The play explores the issues surrounding domestic violence such as power and control in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. To find out more download the flyer: Apple Pie Order Flyer

Written and performed by local star Elaine Pantling, the play has been touring the Leicestershire region and has been well-received by audiences made up of both men and women.

The performance is free and you can reserve a seat by emailing p.conrad@harborough.gov.uk. Alternatively, please feel free to come along to the show on the night.

Apple Pie Order

On: Thursday, 27th May 2010 from 7.15pm (curtain up at 7.45pm):

At: Harborough Theatre, The Square, Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough

Spire UK has been distributing the flyer below in support of the show – aiming to raise awareness of domestic abuse in rural areas. Download the flyer for more information: Spire UK Flyer

Spire UK flyer

The Greek Spire team has been raising awareness of domestic abuse amongst young people by holding events at several local schools.

The events targeted both junior and senior schools in Hersonissos, Crete and gave pupils the chance to ask questions about domestic abuse, whilst finding out more about the issues.

As well as children and young people, the team also spoke to the local Teachers and Parents Association – so that they can continue to raise awareness in schools.

Spire Greece was joined by PhD candidate Mrs Maria Papadakaki, an expert on domestic abuse and social worker Eliza Iatraki.

Do you think it’s important to raise awareness of domestic abuse amongst young people? Let us know your views by posting your comments below.

Radio is proving such an effective medium for raising awareness of domestic abuse in Greece, the Spire team is going ‘on air’ again today.

Spire Greece talks on Crete's leading radio show

Spire Greece will be talking about the issue on Radio Kriti’s morning show – which is one of the most popular radio shows in Crete. The Spire team will also be joined by Mr George Danelakis – the local Mayor.

Maria from Spire Greece says:

“The radio show has a wide audience range and many listeners from rural areas so it’s a very important way of raising awareness.”

Spire Greece is also planning events at Hersonissos’s schools this week – watch this space for more Greek news coming soon!