Sudbury charity Compassion set to join frontline for White Ribbon Day campaign against domestic abuse

A charity supporting victims of domestic abuse will be on the frontline of an awareness drive beginning next week, to ensure those who need help know where to turn.

White Ribbon Day – formally known as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – takes place on Monday, marking the start of 16 days of action.

During this period, Sudbury-based charity Compassion will be out and about in the town and the surrounding area, for its Red Flag awareness campaign.

The Compassion team will ask shops and businesses to offer victims access to a phone, and display posters signposting them to the charity, or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.

They are also highlighting ‘red flags’ – the common signs of abusive or coercive behaviour, such as the victim receiving the silent treatment, or being forced to prove where they are and who they are with.

Compassion trustee Tony Howard said they want people to take the first step of asking for help, adding that ‘no-one should turn a blind eye to suspected domestic abuse’.

He revealed that data shows approximately one in eight domestic abuse cases reported in Suffolk are within the Sudbury area.

“This is to encourage people to report when they are in difficulty,” Mr Howard told the Suffolk Free Press. “We’re saying, ‘don’t be afraid to come forward’.

“Generally, domestic abuse is something that is getting more visibility in the community. We’re conscious it’s an issue in Sudbury.

“The number of abuse reports is rising, but they are rising because people’s awareness of abuse is becoming greater. In a way, it’s a success of the work to raise awareness.”

The Compassion team will be out and about in Sudbury on Tuesday, in Clare and Cavendish on Friday, November 29, in Long Melford on December 6, and in Lavenham on December 9.

The organisation currently runs regular courses to support victims of abuse, available in-person or online.

These include victims of intimate coercive experience (Voice), child-to-parent violence (Who’s In Charge), and teenage relationship abuse (Escape The Trap).

For further information, go online to www.compass-ion.org.

The charity is also seeking additional staff and volunteers to help deliver these programmes.