The first 60 volunteers preparing to be ‘the eyes and ears’ as part of a campaign to tackle domestic abuse have received their first training session.
The Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service has been commissioned by the county council with support from Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Jones and NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board.
The project is being run by End Domestic Abuse Now in Lincolnshire (EDAN).
An Outreach Engagement Team has been set up, aiming to provide early interventions, targeting communities and individuals who may face barriers to accessing domestic abuse support services.
EDAN is recruiting ‘Domestic Abuse Champions’ and they’re particularly looking to recruit them in the ‘hard to reach communities.
A spokesman said: “The Domestic Abuse Champions will be the eyes and ears around the county, they may be professionals, business owners, survivors or members of the public who share our vision for a life free from abuse.
“Their primary role is to raise awareness of domestic abuse, identifying and signposting people to get the help they need.
“We are committed to providing training, support and consultation to anyone who may like the opportunity to be a Domestic Abuse Champion.”
There were 60 people who came forward for the initial call. They received their first training session recently in Lincoln thanks to sponsorship from Ringrose Law.
It was delivered by Ann Canter alongside Theresa Garcia and Laura Wardell, both Outreach Engagement Practioners
“We know this will be the first of many events and demonstrates the passion and dedication of the people of Lincolnshire to support families to live a life free from domestic abuse,” the spokesman said.
To find out more about the Outreach Engagement Teams initiatives visit https://ldass.org.uk/become-a-domestic-abuse-champion