Over the past few years, domestic abuse has been an
increasingly trending topic but, despite this, knowledge around the many forms
it can take and the impacts it has remain patchy.
It’s an issue that affects millions of people across the
country every year and is estimated to be experienced by 1 in 3 women and 1 in
5 men in their lifetime.
Many campaigners have described it as a “national
emergency”, not only reflecting the vast number of people affected but also
recognising the wider impact it has.
Domestic abuse does not only impact those experiencing it,
but it also has a massive effect on our society, our key services, and the
economy.
Figures released alongside the Domestic Abuse Act (2021)
estimated that domestic abuse costs society £66bn every year, with a staggering
£14bn coming from lost output – the costs to businesses and organisations
through staff absence, lack of productivity, or recruitment.
People experiencing domestic abuse are also likely to be
disciplined or even lose their jobs as a result of higher levels of absence
from work, poor time keeping or reduced productivity.
Knowing how to respond to domestic abuse is a challenge for
many businesses, particularly when it can be hard to spot the signs someone is
experiencing it and many are unsure how to provide effective support to those
affected.
There will also be many that do not have policies or
procedures around domestic abuse, making it difficult to know how to respond
effectively and consistently.
Whilst many employers will have clear guidance around
issues such as mental health, the picture around domestic abuse is unclear and
could be costing businesses.
At Leeway, we believe that by undergoing domestic abuse
awareness training we can support businesses to reduce the costs of domestic
abuse to their organisations, whilst also supporting them to fulfil their duty
of care towards employees.
Our training has supported a variety of organisations,
ranging from the health sector and local authorities to financial institutions
and local businesses – something that we are incredibly proud of.
We believe that tackling domestic abuse is everyone’s
business and that we all have a role to play to support those experiencing it.
Leeway’s Training
The training provided by Leeway aims to equip businesses
and organisations with the knowledge and ability to spot the signs of domestic
abuse, whilst also being able to signpost employees or clients to access
support.
Our Domestic Abuse Awareness sessions break down the
different forms of domestic abuse, how to spot the signs – providing real life examples
of what this might look like – and how to approach conversations around
domestic abuse and signpost someone to support.
We also provide bespoke training sessions tailored to meet
the needs of businesses and organisations, specifically covering the issues
that are most relevant to their area of business.
Leeway can also provide support for businesses and
organisations that are looking to draft or their policies and procedures
around domestic abuse.
Not only will this support businesses and organisations to
meet their duty of care to their employees, but we also believe that this can
save them money too.
To enquire about our training services and how Leeway can
support your business, please email [email protected]. More
information can also be found on the Leeway website – www.leewaysupport.org/training.