Wearside charity launch help line for those concerned about domestic abuse
Findaway is a non-emergency phone line where people can raise concerns about whether a loved one is being controlled or hurt by a family member, partner or ex
A new project from a Sunderland charity is hoping to offer support for the friends and family of domestic abuse victims who don't know where to turn.
Wearside Women In Need are spearheading "Findaway" - a non-emergency, anonymous phone line where people can raise concerns about whether a loved one is being controlled or hurt by a family member, partner or ex.
Becky Rogerson, the director of WWIN, explains why it's necessary;
"Although helplines will often, I think, take perhaps calls from third parties, that's not widely advertised.
"This is probably the only one in the country which says 'This is for you.'"
A survey, carried out by WWIN in 2020 - the Who Did You Tell Survey - found 62% of survivors told a friend or family member about the abuse before telling anyone else.
Now they want to spread the message that everyone will probably know someone who has been affected by domestic abuse.
Ciara Barrett-Smith is taking the lead on running the Findaway project, and tells us the aims:
"Findaway is primarily a service for people who are worried that somebody that they know is maybe being affected by domestic abuse,
"That might be family members, friends, colleagues, neighbours - those kind of, informal supporters who we think are often the first to recognise domestic abuse, so often the first to recognise the signs.
"Some people contact because they have maybe noticed some red flags, some signs that they're not sure if it's domestic abuse or not.
"We get asked quite a lot 'is this domestic abuse?'
"Obviously we can't label things over the phone but we can talk through - from our experiences - what kind of behaviours they have recognised."
She hopes they will also be able to target some of the myths which persist around domestic abuse as well;
"People don't always understand - we hear sometimes 'Why don't victims leave?'
"And people don't understand the impact of control and of domestic abuse, so we can help people with understanding that as well."
Becky tells us it is already making a difference;
"The calls that have been coming in have been so necessary - so useful...
"And I think those people have walked away really glad that they've made that call."
You can find out more about Findaway through their website, and they also have social media profiles on Twitter and Instagram.
The number to call is 0300 140 0061 - and it operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
You can also find out more about Wearside Women In Need on their website.