Over the last three years, West Mercia Women’s Aid has been building our relationship with the Military of Defence so that access to specialist domestic abuse advice and support can become more easily accessible to those who are involved in the Armed Forces in West Mercia. This includes the wives and partners of servicemen and women who are based in the county, as well as service personnel themselves.
Funding has been secured for two years from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to expand and develop the support available on bases in Herefordshire and in Shropshire. This programme – known as The Penelope Project – was launched on 17th February.
There is already a network of strong women within the community with whom we have built relationships through our work to date and we know that they are really keen to play an active part of this initiative. Other professionals linked to the base through local schools and health services are also looking to be involved, as are those who have already been supported through our early work.
‘Penelope’ will establish an Ambassador programme of people who will be informed and can provide initial advice and signposting to anyone who asks with a concern about their own experience of abuse, or that of a friend or relative. The Ambassadors will be trained to understand domestic abuse – in particular the issues that are pertinent to their community, which can be insular and isolating. Ambassadors will also learn about the full range of services available and what those services have to offer – with a strong focus on the role of the base Welfare team and its partnership with WMWA.
The project will also increase the number of safe ‘drop-in’ sessions. Penelope will focus in particular on helping women whose first language is not English, or whose residential status in the UK places them at a particular disadvantage when seeking to escape from intimate partner violence. Events like wellness days and children’s play activities will provide opportunities to speak with a specialist domestic abuse worker from WMWA and/or a welfare officer in safe and confidential places.
WMWA ‘s Penelope workers will not only provide advice and support, but also advocate strongly with partner agencies such as housing providers, children’s services and immigration authorities to overcome the hurdles the military community face when accessing those services in the local community.
