‘Legal aid’ offered to abuse charity

A DOMESTIC abuse charity has struck up a corporate partnership with a local law firm.

Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), which has a base in Barnsley, has partnered with Jordan’s Solicitors which has an office in Penistone.

Sarah Hill, chief executive of

IDAS, said: “We are living in a time of extraordinary challenges.

“We are continuing to see the impact of Covid, when victims were trapped with their abusers and isolated from their usual support networks. As lockdown restrictions were lifted, we saw an unprecedented demand for our services, and we anticipate that this increase in helpline calls and referrals will continue for some time to come.

“We are also finding that abusers are now using the current cost of living crisis as a means of further exerting power and control, including by restricting their victim’s access to money and therefore making it harder for them to leave.

“We are grateful for the support of Jordan’s Solicitors. We need to raise around £100,000 each year to support our mainstream funding, and corporate partnerships provide a vital source of income.

“We hope this partnership encourages other businesses to follow suit, so that we can reach more people subjected to abuse and violence who desperately need our support.”