MP and Claire Throssell MBE hold Stocksbridge round table on domestic abuse

Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, and Claire Throssell MBE, organised a round table and training with Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) champions in Stocksbridge, for community organisations and local businesses.

IDAS is South Yorkshire’s domestic abuse service, and participants shared information on their lived experience of victims and survivors, as well as what more can be done by working together, across our Valley, to tackle domestic abuse. Attendees also shared practical advice on how to effectively support someone as a bystander, inside and outside of the workplace.

IDAS's domestic abuse training focuses on the five Ds. First, distract the abuser. Second, delegate to someone who can step in, like the police or your manager. Third, document instances of abuse, including if someone else has confided in you. Fourth, delay the situation from escalating. Fifth, directly intervene and confront the abuser.

Marie is planning on building on this work to combat domestic abuse across Stocksbridge and her constituency more widely.

The Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls within a decade, and has recently invested £53 million to protect victims of domestic abuse from the most dangerous offenders.

Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said:

"Domestic abuse is all around us. I’m determined to change the culture around domestic abuse and violence to make sure that victims and survivors can access the support they need locally.

"I've been working with Claire to repeal the presumption of contact in our family courts and want to ensure this work to protect victims of domestic abuse is brought to every community across our constituency.

"Thank you so much to the various community organisations, community champions and local businesses across Stocksbridge for attending, as well as the formidable Claire Throssell MBE and IDAS."