Investor Programme- Supporting Families (2005)

Aim 1 - Domestic Violence

The objects of this aim are to take a preventative approach and:

• to support young victims of domestic violence in rebuilding their lives through supporting services such as housing, counselling and skills training
• to promote and improve educational and counselling services available to children who have experienced / witnessed domestic violence
• to address the specific issues surrounding BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) groups and domestic violence through the provision of relevant services
• to reduce and prevent domestic violence through education and awareness-raising in schools, and the running of perpetrator treatment programmes

More often than not domestic violence is a hidden crime that goes unnoticed. Most are surprised by the number of people who are affected by domestic violence and the impact that it has:

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives
• At any one time 1 in 9 women will be experiencing domestic violence
• 2 women a week and 30 men a year are murdered by a current or former partner - and this figure is rising
• domestic violence accounts for 16% of all violent crime
• it costs the country in excess of £23 billion per year - this incorporates the costs to the NHS, Social Services, the Criminal Justice System and employers
• on average there will have been 35 assaults before a victim calls the police
• it is the largest cause of morbidity worldwide in women aged 19-44 (more than war, cancer or motor accidents)
• gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender men and women experience domestic violence and abuse at similar levels to heterosexual women - with 1 in 4 affected in their lifetime

Following a comprehensive selection process The Nationwide Foundation selected six charities in March 2006, to be supported through this aim of the Investor Programme. Grants from The Foundation helped support victims of domestic violence to rebuild their lives, helped children through the trauma of witnessing domestic violence at home and helped to address some of the root causes of domestic violence. The charities supported were:

• Broken Rainbow
  

  Broken Rainbow offers support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence. Their services include a helpline, offering a listening, information and signposting service, providing a model of best practice and raising awareness to increase the safety and well-being of LGBT people who experience abuse. The funds from The Nationwide Foundation are being used to develop a train the trainer programme for domestic violence professionals working with LGBT people and towards core costs.

• Eighteen and Under
  

  Eighteen and Under offers confidential support and information to any person aged 18 and under who has experienced abuse. Eighteen and Under has produced a programme called Violence Is Preventable (VIP) which educates young people about healthy relationships and that violence is not acceptable. Based in Dundee the programme runs in every school and nursery in the area. The funding from The Nationwide Foundation is helping them roll out the programme to 100 new schools and 100 new nurseries to help an estimated 500 children deal with their experiences of domestic violence.

• Kurdistan Refugee Women's Organisation
  

  Kurdistan Refugee Women's Organisation provides information, advice, support and counselling to Kurdish and Middle Eastern women living in the UK. The organisation has created an awareness amongst the public, government, local authorities, police and other statutory bodies about the domestic violence crimes committed against women on the grounds of tradition, culture and religious teachings. The activities, campaigns and advocacy work of the charity has empowered more Kurdish and Middle Eastern women to make informed decisions about their lives. The Foundation is funding a full time outreach worker and part time administrator to provide support to families to help them re-build their lives and to tackle the effects of domestic violence and the threat of honour killings.

• Leeway Norwich Women's Aid
  

  Leeway Norwich Women's Aid provides a range of support to women and children fleeing domestic violence in Norfolk. The Foundation is funding work that will provide individual and group support to children and young people aged 5-16 years who have experience of domestic violence. Using a multi-agency approach, Leeway will also raise awareness of domestic violence issues and educate young people about safe relationships. The grant from the Foundation is funding the salaries of two children’s workers.

• Refuge
  

  Refuge provides a network of safe houses providing emergency accommodation for women and children when they are most in need. The Nationwide Foundation is funding the salary of a psychologist to provide intensive support to children and their mothers. Funding is also being provided towards the salaries of two domestic violence social workers who work closely with psychologists in refuges across London to provide group and individual therapy.

• Respect
  

  Respect is a membership association for domestic violence perpetrator programmes and associated support services, which work to prevent perpetrators of domestic violence committing acts of abuse against their partner. The grant from The Nationwide Foundation is going towards core costs to allow the organisation to support their members, expand their capacity and develop new services and areas of work

Investor Programme - Supporting Families
Aim 2 - Prisoners' Families
Aim 3 - Young Offenders

The Nationwide Foundation is a registered charity (no 1065552) and has limited liability being a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no. 3451979). Registered office address: Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon, SN38 1NW.
Site updated: April 2012