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Charity and council team up to launch free domestic abuse awareness training
Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has joined forces with Andover-based charity, Finding Freedom from Abuse, to run free training sessions for hairdressers and beauticians to enable them to spot the signs of domestic abuse and support those who may be affected.
Statistics shared by the women and children’s domestic violence charity, Refuge, show that one in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. And, on average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every five days.
The ‘DOVE Champion Training’, run by Finding Freedom from Abuse, aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to identify warning signs of abuse, provide appropriate support, and connect individuals to essential resources.
The council has funded the sessions targeted specifically at hairdressers and beauticians as they often build close and trusting relationships with their clients, making them uniquely positioned to notice changes or signs that may indicate domestic abuse.
The sessions will provide practical guidance to help people to become compassionate and informed advocates within their communities. They will cover topics such as identifying signs of domestic abuse, approaching sensitive conversations with clients, and connecting individuals with local support services.
To book a training session, call 0333 242 2055 or email enquiries@findingfreedom.org.uk
"We are delighted to work with Test Valley Borough Council to deliver DOVE Champion Training," said Donna Cullimore, CEO of Finding Freedom from Abuse.
"This initiative empowers professionals in the beauty industry to play a vital role in supporting vulnerable individuals and creating a safer community."
TVBC’s housing portfolio holder, Councillor Kirsty North, added: “The statistics are truly sobering. This training will help people to recognise the signs that someone is experiencing domestic abuse, and, critically, to enable them to take steps towards getting away from their abuser.
“I would urge all salons and independent hairdressers and beauticians to sign up for the training. It is fully funded, so by sparing just a couple hours of your day, you could help to save someone’s life.”
The sessions are open to all hairdressers and beauticians in the Test Valley area. Finding Freedom from Abuse will run the free sessions with individual salons at a time that suits them.