A Lincolnshire domestic abuse charity has seen demand for its help rocket over the last year.
The revelation comes after an inquest heard that a man with a history of domestic violence murdered his partner before killing himself.
The charity EDAN (Ending Domestic Abuse Now in Lincolnshire) says referrals have shot up by 28 per cent since the start of the pandemic.
Karolina Zinkeviciene (30) was strangled last June by Breshnev Ruiters who then hanged himself, Boston Coroner’s Court heard last week.
The hearing was told he had a history of domestic abuse with at least three previous partners.
A spokesman for EDAN said: “We’re saddened to hear of the loss of life.”
It says referrals have risen by more than a quarter since lockdown started last year.
The charity is piloting a new project to reduce what it describes as the ‘waiting list’ for its services providing support, advice and safety to men, women and children who experience domestic abuse.
Those behind EDAN were unable to say how many are currently on the waiting list.
It is open to anyone that might need its help to provide safe, emergency, temporary accommodation and support.
The spokesman added: “During the pandemic and over the last year we have received more referrals and learnt to adapt to the changes in accordance with government guidelines of social distancing with work and care.
“This has been so successful, we have introduced a new initiative to tackle waiting lists and provide specialist, targeted, short term intervention to low risk victims of domestic abuse.
“This is a new and exciting initiative to meet the ever growing demand whilst providing crucial targeted domestic abuse awareness for victims and their children to live free from abuse.”
The new pilot is called SAFE which stands for Safety, Awareness, Freedom and Empowerment.
It involves a one-to-one coaching session and aims to help victims to better understand their experiences and empower them to make positive, healthy and safe choices for their future.
“The aim of this module is to increase the non-abusive parent/caregiver’s knowledge and awareness of the effects of domestic abuse on children and how they can help their own children to recover,” the spokesman continued.
EDAN was initially set up nearly 20-years-ago for the West Lindsey district but is now working across the whole county with Lincolnshire County Council.
It has two multi-occupancy refuge centres (one consisting of 11 units and the other having five units) along with five dispersed properties across Lincolnshire.
The EDAN spokesman continued: “Our countywide outreach services can assist women, men and children who are still living in, or have recently left, an abusive relationship and who require advice and support with regards to options available to them.
“We provide holistic support and specialist intervention for individuals and families, including internally support for children and young people that have been impacted by domestic abuse.
“In addition we can refer individuals with additional complex needs such as mental health or substance misuse issues to specialists.”
“We are part of the Lincolnshire County Domestic Abuse Partnership and work closely with Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Police to provide coherent and effective response to domestic abuse services in Lincolnshire.”
EDAN is currently recruiting and fundraising to carry on delivering its service. For more information and contact details you can visit EDAN’s website https://edanlincs.org.uk/ or its Facebook page www.facebook.com/EDANlincs
