Spurgeons shows red card to domestic violence

black and white boy thinkingLike millions of others Jeanette Mulcare was concerned about injuries during the World Cup. But Jeanette, manager of Spurgeons Stepping Stones Family Support Project in Birmingham, is more worried about those that don't hit the headlines - sustained by frightened women on the receiving end of domestic violence.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) report that violence in the home increased by an average of 25 per cent on England's match days during the last World Cup in 2006.

Jeanette pioneered The Freedom Programme in Birmingham, a community-based training and education course for women delivered by Spurgeons. Women wishing to learn more about domestic violence and abuse are invited on the programme.

Spurgeons launched the programme almost three years ago when Jeanette recognised abuse as a major factor for four out of every five families referred to Stepping Stones. Reported rates of domestic abuse in Birmingham are among the highest in the country. According to the Birmingham Safety Partnership 2008, in one year alone more than 26,000 women will be affected by a significant incident and 33,000 children will have witnessed such violence.

The free, 12-week Freedom Programme is run across three venues in Birmingham and seeks to build women's self-esteem. So far 80 women have attended the programme.
While the Freedom Programme is unique to Birmingham, all Spurgeons children's centres and family support projects work with families who have experienced domestic violence - from Bedfordshire to Salford, Sussex to Stoke.

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