0808 2000 247 Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge
0808 8010 800 Freephone 24 hour Domestic Abuse Helpline for Wales
(bilingual)
CEDAR - Catholics Experiencing Domestic Abuse Resources
The Domestic Abuse Working Group(DAWG) was established by the Department for Christian Responsibility & Citizenship of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in 2008 to look at developing appropriate pastoral responses and advice on issues around domestic abuse for parishes, deaneries, dioceses, school and organisations in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
They have gathered here a range of resources to help parishes, deaneries, dioceses, schools and organisations grow in awareness of issues surrounding domestic abuse. Their aim is to create an environment within the Catholic community in which domestic abuse is understood and recognised as unacceptable and where appropriate responses are available.
WHAT CAN YOUR PARISH DO?
They have gathered here a range of resources to help parishes, deaneries, dioceses, schools and organisations grow in awareness of issues surrounding domestic abuse. Their aim is to create an environment within the Catholic community in which domestic abuse is understood and recognised as unacceptable and where appropriate responses are available.
WHAT CAN YOUR PARISH DO?
- Here's a list of simple, practical activities that any parish can engage in to raise awareness of domestic abuse and develop confidence in responding appropriately when abuse is suspected or reported.
- Preach with an awareness that 1 in 4 of the congregation may have experience of domestic abuse.
- Regularly include prayers for those experiencing domestic abuse in the prayers of intercession.
- Display the helpline stickers on the inside of all parish toilets. (Contact the Commission for stickers)
- Make a telephone freely available for victims to seek help so that their phone bill will not give them away.
- Be aware that those who experience communication difficulties may need parish assistance to seek help
- Give all parish volunteers a copy of the prayer card ( Contact the Commission for prayer cards)
- Invite a speaker from the local Refuge, police force or MARAC to a parish meeting or use the podcasts on the Cedar website to engage parishioners in this issue
- Organise awareness-raising and information meetings for clergy, Eucharistic ministers, parish visitors, safeguarding reps, family life ministers, catechists, youth workers, women's and men's groups etc using some of these resources and/or other locally available resources.
- Collaborate with other parishes in the deanery or local pastoral area.
- Order copies of the NBCW domestic abuse resource pack - available from the Cedar website.
- Find out who has expertise already in the parish through their professional or volunteering experiences.Establish a parish domestic abuse policy building on the information and sample policies available on the Cedar website.
- Talk to the chair of your local domestic violence forum (probably facilitated by the local authority) about inviting a pastoral leader to attend this forum.
