March 2025
Welcome
Message from Service/Assistant Service Manager
Dear Domestic Abuse Champions,
As we steer towards the end of March, we want to take a moment to thank you for your unwavering commitment and dedication to supporting those affected by domestic abuse. Your hard work and compassion are vital in creating a safer, more supportive environment for individuals and families in our community. Additionally, we would like to thank you for your patience for the long-awaited NIDAS Domestic Abuse Champions Portal.
March is a month of renewal, growth, and reflection. Just as the season begins to change, so does the hope we bring to those who need it most. Together, we continue to raise awareness, provide support, and advocate for change. Your role as a Domestic Abuse Champion makes a profound difference, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.
Let’s continue to inspire and empower, knowing that each step we take makes a positive impact on the lives of those who need our support.
Thank you for being part of this essential work. Here’s to a strong and compassionate March!
Warm regards,
Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse Service
NIDAS news Update – March 2025
We are thrilled to share that we now have 1,104 trained Domestic Abuse Champions within our network! This is an incredible milestone, and we are so grateful to each of you for your ongoing dedication to supporting those affected by domestic abuse. Together, we continue to make a powerful impact in our community.
In other exciting news, we would like to welcome Rachelle, our new Diverse Communities IDVA, to the NIDAS team. Rachelle joins our specialist team and will be working with individuals from diverse communities who are experiencing domestic abuse. Her role will focus on ensuring that support is tailored to meet the unique needs of people from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Our specialist team includes our:
- Male Victims IDVA
- Older Persons IDVA
- Unmet Needs IDVA
- Disabilities IDVA
- Substance Misuse IDVA
- Diverse Communities IDVA
- LGBTQ+ IDVA
Our specialist IDVA teams have been busy engaging with a range of agencies across Norfolk, presenting on their areas of expertise, and fostering collaborative partnerships. If you would like to arrange for our specialist team to meet with your teams and learn more about the services we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at dachampions@nidasnorfolk.co.uk.
Please be sure to take a moment to visit the Events page, where you’ll find the list of 2025 refresher training dates and a range of other events that we have coming up this year. We’ve worked hard to create a space where you can stay up to date with everything NIDAS has to offer, ensuring you have the tools and support you need to continue your vital work as a Domestic Abuse Champion.
We encourage you to regularly check the events page so you don’t miss any opportunities for training or networking.
Over the course of March 2025, NIDAS received an incredible 311 referrals for support. This reflects the ongoing demand for domestic abuse services and highlights the essential role our network plays in providing timely assistance to those in need.
We are proud of the continued commitment from our team and partners in ensuring that individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse have access to the support and resources they deserve. Each referral represents a person reaching out for help, and together, we continue to make a significant impact in their lives.
Industry News – DA and or Victim Commissioner – the Government, National/Local Policy etc
As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping you informed, we’d like to share some key updates on domestic abuse-related news, including developments from the Government, the Victim Commissioner, and relevant national and local policy changes.
5th March 2025
- Government announces new funding for the Crown Court | Rape Crisis England & Wales
- Breaking Point | Rape Crisis England & Wales
- RCEW_-_Breaking_Point_report_-_March_2023_E4uqKBL.pdf
6th March 2025
7th March 2025
- MPs fall silent as Jess Phillips lists the names of women killed by men in the last 12 months | ITV News
- A focus on stopping perpetrators is needed to protect women from men’s violence | Respect
- Government pledges to protect more women from violence – GOV.UK
10th March 2025
- Assisted dying Bill committee to consider domestic abuse amendment
- Dedicated male abuse survivors line faces closure – BBC News
14th March 2025
- Holly Bramley’s mum campaigns for animal abuse register to protect domestic violence victims | ITV News Calendar
- Petition · Establish Holly’s Law: An Animal Cruelty Register for Domestic Violence Protection – United Kingdom · Change.org
17th March 2025
Holly Newton, 15, was murdered by her, then 16 year old boyfriend. Parents are campaigning to lower the age for domestic abuse support.
- Holly Newton’s parents meet Queen on domestic abuse campaign | Hexham Courant
- Teenager found guilty of murdering 15-year-old Holly Newton | UK News | Sky News
- Need for domestic abuse offence is ‘national emergency’, says MP in Commons call
18th March 2025
- Uniting to break the silence: Criminal Justice System agencies join forces to tackle ‘Honour’-Based Abuse | The Crown Prosecution Service
- Toxic Masculinity In Childhood | The Children’s Society – thoughts from seeing the Netflix show: Adolescence
- We cannot ignore problems of misogyny among young boys after Adolescence, says PM
Victim feedback, good news, affirmations, of what the service means to them, success
We would like to share a powerful piece of feedback from one of our service users, received this month. Their words highlight the incredible impact our team of IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) have in supporting individuals on their journey to recovery:
From the first time speaking with my IDVA, they allowed me to be heard and acknowledged that what I had experienced was real and understood what had been happening to me and that it wasn’t all my fault. My IDVA helped me to better understand that I had been in a toxic relationship with my adult son and family members and their behaviours had led me to reach out for unhealthy coping strategies as a way of being able to manage my emotions and feelings. With the support of the IDVA, I managed to start to put small boundaries in place regarding contact, as this then enabled me to take back a small bit of control and so that I wasn’t constantly treading on eggshells waiting for the phone to ring/message. This was incredibly hard to start with but with time and encouragement from my IDVA, I was able to do this. My IDVA also suggested to me to keep a journal with my thoughts and feelings which I was dubious about writing this because I didn’t think it would work/help but due to my IDVA’s persistence I bought a journal, however, it took me a long time to start writing it in but it has been worth it to step back and reflect on my thoughts/feelings and a positive coping strategy. Housing also supported in putting in a video doorbell and that if I decide I want to move, they are able to support me with this, again this has been helpful. My IDVA referred me referred me to receive counselling support. I do owe a lot of my recovery to my IDVA as I feel like she gave me this opportunity to enable me to help myself.
Training or reading material/books
At NIDAS, we are always looking for ways to support the continued learning and development of our Domestic Abuse Champions. Whether you’re looking to refresh your knowledge or explore new perspectives, we have some exciting training opportunities and reading materials to share.
7th March 2025
- Women’s Aid launched sobering children’s book Monster Who Came to Tea’ and calls on the Government to improve funding for women and children survivors of domestic abuse this International Women’s Day – Women’s Aid
- To sign the open letter and to download a copy of ‘The Monster Who Came to Tea’ click here
- 8th March 2025 -Caitlin O’Ryan performed a powerful poem around reframing the question, ‘Why did you stay?’ Caitlin O’Ryan performs poem for Refuge’s No Red Flag is Too Small campaign this International Women’s Day
- Safer Place holds free webinars, you can sign up to these on Eventbrite. They also have paid CPD sessions on Eventbrite and paid qualifications via their website;
- Women’s aid have free webinars/content/resources online;
- Domestic shelter have recorded webinars to view on their website;
- The Whole-Brain Child: Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind – Book by Daniel J. Siegel
- In Control By Jane Monckton Smith
- Remembered Forever: Our family’s devastating story of domestic abuse and murder by Luke Hart and Ryan Hart
- Stalked – Podcast on BBC Sounds
- New book explores domestic abuse-related deaths and how to bring change – Durham University
Jobs and opportunities at NIDAS, become a volunteer
At NIDAS, we’re always looking to expand our team and welcome passionate individuals who are committed to supporting survivors of domestic abuse. Please keep an eye out for future vacancies which we will list in our monthly newsletters.
Current Job Openings
There are currently no job openings being advertised
Volunteering for NIDAS
We are excited to announce that we are looking for dedicated volunteers to join our team. Volunteering with NIDAS is a great way to gain experience in the domestic abuse sector, make a positive impact in your community, and learn from a supportive and skilled team. Whether you are interested in providing administrative support or contributing to events, there are a variety of ways to get involved.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please contact us at admin@leewaynwa.org.uk or visit Volunteer with Leeway for more information.
We are pleased to remind you about our NIDAS Stakeholder Reference Groups, which take place on a quarterly basis. These groups play a crucial role in ensuring that we stay connected with our partners, gather valuable feedback, and continue to improve our services for those affected by domestic abuse.
Why Attend?
- Collaborate: Share best practices and solutions to challenges we face in the field.
- Feedback: Provide direct input into NIDAS’s service delivery.
- Network: Build connections with other professionals and organisations committed to ending domestic abuse.
- Stay Updated: Receive updates on the latest developments in domestic abuse policy, local services, and NIDAS initiatives.
When and How to Join?
The Stakeholder Reference Groups meet quarterly. If you’re interested in attending, or if you’d like more information about the next meeting, please contact us at dachampions@nidasnorfolk.co.uk. We encourage all partners, agencies, and individuals involved in supporting domestic abuse survivors to get involved and be part of these important discussions.
We would love to hear from our Domestic Abuse Champions! If you have any positive news, stories of success, or anything you would like to share with the NIDAS community, we encourage you to reach out to us for inclusion in our monthly newsletter.
Whether it’s a personal success story, a highlight from your work, or an inspiring example of how you’ve supported someone through their journey, your contributions can help inspire and motivate others. Sharing these positive experiences is an excellent way to showcase the incredible work being done by our network and continue building a sense of community among our champions.
How to Contribute
If you have something to share, please get in touch with us at dachampions@nidasnorfolk.co.uk. We’d love to include your news and celebrate the successes of our team. Your story might just be the encouragement someone else needs to take the next step or feel supported in their own work.
Thank you for everything you do to help survivors of domestic abuse—your efforts are truly making a difference!
