Programme formed to help victims of domestic abuse
WICKLOW Volunteer Centre is one of seven organisations which have come together to support people emerging from violent abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic.
CRiTiCall – Community Response Team Call – is a new initiative involving Saint Patrick’s, Safe Ireland, Dublin City Volunteer Centre, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Volunteer Centre, Fingal Volunteer Centre, South Dublin County Volunteer Centre and Wicklow Volunteer Centre.
One of the tragic side effects of restrictions introduced to curb the spread of Covid-19 has been an increase in reports of domestic abuse. There is a surge in demand for supports for people experiencing abuse in the home and many refuges are full. CRiTiCall offers a number of different responses to this. It also gives people who want to volunteer from home in the current times an opportunity to do so. In the first phase the partners are appealing for several responses and the participating volunteer centres have announced a list of ways that you can be involved.
They include donations of much-needed items, volunteering of a holiday home or second property as a safe haven, and writing letters of courage and hope to those emerging from domestic abuse. Kelley Bermingham, Community Officer with Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, said that An Garda Síochána report increased incidents of domestic abuse. ‘Under Operation Faoisimh, An Garda Síochána have recorded a 25% increase in reports of domestic abuse compared to the same period last year. Already, many refuges are at full capacity. We want to ensure that when people are ready to make the courageous step to leave an abusive situation that we have every resource to hand to support them in their recovery and pathway to a new, safe life.’
Contact Wicklow Volunteer Centre at leah@ volunteerwicklow.ie.