WE ARE A 'SAFE CHURCH'
The Safe Church Initiative was developed to empower churches to recognise and respond to Domestic Violence and Abuse both within the church and wider community context.
In any large church there are undoubtedly people who are experiencing domestic abuse
and also those who perpetrate it.
How to get help?
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can contact any of NBC’s Safe Church Team in confidence:
Brian Davison 07981 962 902
Gillian Carlisle 07543 699368
Helena Young 07590 814 771
Stephen Young 07594 000 886
Other numbers:
24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline 080 802 1414 dsahelpline.org
(Open to all men and women affected by domestic and sexual violence)
Local Women’s Aid Refuge womensaidni.org
PSNI 101 (or 999 in an emergency) Domestic Abuse | PSNI
Childline 0800 389 4424 childline.org.uk
The Rowan (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) 0800 389 4424 therowan.net
Men’s Alliance Northern Ireland mensallianceni.co.uk
Men’s Advisory Project 028 9024 1929 mapni.org.uk
Lifeline 0808 808 8000 lifelinehelpline.info
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is generally considered to be an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. Whilst much of the abuse is experienced by women and perpetrated by men, a significant proportion of those experiencing abuse are men with abuse perpetrated by wives, partners or other family members.
Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence); psychological and/or emotional abuse; physical or sexual abuse; financial or economic abuse; harassment and stalking or online or digital abuse.
The longer the abuse goes on the more frequent and serious it is likely to become.
As a church we will:-
- Support the Safe Place Campaign Pledge: never to commit, condone or stay silent about domestic violence or abuse.
- Acknowledge that domestic violence or abuse are problems that impact on all of us as asociety, andwill be prepared to play our part in supporting anyone affected.
- Provide a Safe Place for anyone affected by domestic violence or abuse to confidentially access information.
- Effectively respond to disclosures of abuse and support anyone affected to access support.
- Raise awareness within the Church that there are no excuses for acts of domestic violence or abuse.
- Commit to raising awareness about the support available for anyone affected by domestic violence or abuse and work in partnership with other organisations to ensure best practice.