Domestic Abuse Stops Now

One in four women, one in six men and one in five children are abused. Sarah Rodi spoke to Caron Kipping at The DASH Charity, which supports victims of domestic abuse

It’s hard to believe, but Thames Valley Police get a call about domestic abuse every 30 seconds. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. 2,429 people called The DASH Charity helpline last year, and 740 of those were crisis calls from people desperate for help.

The DASH Charity (Domestic Abuse Stops Here) supports families experiencing domestic abuse across Windsor and Maidenhead, South Buckinghamshire and Slough.

The charity has been around for 42 years, starting off with one refuge home for women, and has grown and evolved over that time. The charity now delivers a range of specialist services that aim to break the cycle of abuse, enabling individuals and families to thrive.

“We now have three refuge houses and can support 14 families at any one time from all over the UK,” says community engagement manager Caron Kipping. “We also run a confidential helpline. There’s 25 volunteers altogether.”

Their biggest team is the community team, which supports local victims of domestic abuse.

“We offer people practical and emotional wraparound support,” says Caron. “Our children’s team offers specialist, therapeutic support, and our schools prevention worker goes into local primary and secondary schools delivering workshops, explaining about unhealthy relationships, and teaching children that hands are not for hitting. ”