Our talk this week was by Anna Davis, Fundraising and Communications Coordinator for EDAN Lincs Domestic Abuse Service. EDAN Lincs works across the county providing support and assistance to the victims, perpetrators and witnesses of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse is often assumed to be violent, but also encompasses physiological and verbal abuse and controlling behaviour. Children who have witnessed domestic abuse are now also considered victims.
Sadly, domestic abuse is far more common than you may imagine, effecting an estimated 35 thousand people in Lincolnshire last year. Official figures state that nationally, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced abuse, but Anna fears those figures will be revised upwards once the increase in cases her service witnessed during and since the lockdowns are taken into account.
EDAN (End Domestic Abuse Now) Lincs was started by social workers who recognised a gap in provision over 20 years ago. The service supports victims and families to get them out of harmful situations and aid their recovery. There is also an effort to ensure people aware of abuse speak out, so action can be taken.
EDAN Lincs has just been contracted by LCC to provide the Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Support Service (LDASS) but still needs to fundraise in order to maintain it’s full range of services. Anna explained that several Rotary Clubs in the country support the charity, and President John Clarke was pleased to hand over a cheque for £200 on our behalf.
For more information, please visit the EDAN Lincs website.