October is National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Domestic abuse is currently the forefront of Kent Policing. This month is designed to unify women and men all across the world who have been victims of domestic abuse.

We know that victims can struggle or be reluctant to seek support at this time, and that hidden harm is likely to be suffered by our more vulnerable victims. Domestic abuse can occur in a physical, mental and emotional aspect – where a large number of victims may not even realise they are being abused due to the lack of knowledge and understanding around this.

Domestic abuse is a key area of the Kent Police Control Strategy and the safeguarding of vulnerable people is at the heart of the investigations. Supporting someone through an experience of domestic abuse crime can be very challenging and difficult, particularly when they are repeatedly targeted by someone they know
and love.

Whilst there is some way to go to improve the reporting and detecting of Domestic abuse, The North Division Vulnerability Investigation Team of Kent Police are looking to raise money for the Oasis Domestic Abuse Charity and also raise awareness of DA reporting in our communities.

During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the team aim to accumulatively run/walk the distance it would take to run to every police station in Kent. (Swanley, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Ashford, Folkstone, Margate, Canterbury. Sittingbourne, Medway and North Kent).
This equates to 300.9KM or 187 miles.

Oasis supports adults, children and young people in East Kent, Medway & North Kent who have been affected by domestic abuse.

Below is an example of what your donation could give them.

• £5 could buy a teddy bear for a child confused and frightened by the move to refuge

• £15 could pay for a set of pyjamas and underwear for a child who has fled violence

• £30 could pay for a counselling session for a woman traumatised by abuse

• £50 could buy a kitchen starter kit with pots pans and utensils for a family resettling from refuge

• £100 could help us to offer virtual support to women who are unable to attend support because of the pandemic

• £200 could pay for days out for the refuge children

• £1000 could pay for a groupwork programme for women in recovery from the trauma of domestic abuse