Our large network of Champions come from a range of backgrounds. Champions help to raise awareness and make domestic abuse everybody’s business, which can help to bring lasting and positive societal change. We know that there are many people who experience domestic abuse for a long time before they get help, but when they speak to someone who is understanding and responsive, it can make all the difference as to whether they get the help they need. You can be a champion in your place of work or study, in your faith or community group or in the community in which you live. Champions have the opportunity for ongoing training and support from our Volunteer Organisers, who help them to stay connected and feel part of the IDAS family.
“My mum’s first marriage was horribly abusive. She was beaten on a daily basis and hospitalised on several occasions. I have seen the ongoing effect this experience has had, not only on my mum, but on our whole family. I chose to become an IDAS Champion to promote this lifesaving service and to highlight to people that domestic abuse can affect anyone, irrespective of age, gender or social status.”
You can be a Champion in your place of work or study and help to raise awareness with your peers and colleagues. You will understand the culture of your study or workplace and can help to inform and educate others so that domestic abuse is something that people talk about. Things you might do include:
Community Champions use their local knowledge to build on their community’s strengths. They understand the culture and sentiment of the community and how it works. As a Community Champion, you may be a faith leader, a local business- person, or someone who has other neighbourhood connections. Your local understanding could be crucial in transforming and improving the response to domestic abuse, helping towards a lasting and positive change.
If you are a survivor of abuse and keen to influence how IDAS responds to victims and survivors, our Survivor’s Advisory Board might be right for you. Made up of survivors from all backgrounds, our committed Board help us monitor the quality of our services, review our practice and policies and feed into local strategic work.
Our community teams are embedded in local communities and respond to the needs of the people who live there. There are many ways you could be involved with a community team; for example, some of our volunteers help to facilitate groups and others provide a listening ear to clients who are feeling isolated. There are also opportunities to do other things such as helping with admin tasks or distributing items to people to help keep them safe in their home.
Our refuges provide a perfect setting for our talented volunteers to share their skills such as cooking or DIY with adults and children to help them towards re-building their lives and living independently in the future.
Our Ambassadors are often brave survivors of domestic abuse or sexual violence. They are courageous, compassionate individuals who are determined to stand up against domestic abuse and break the silence around it. If you are a survivor and would like to support campaigns that promote social justice and lobby for change in systems and processes for victims and survivors, then we would love to hear from you!
Do you have a spare room and the time to commit to making a difference to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence? Safe Havens volunteer hosts offer a room in their house to an individual or family escaping abuse who need some time and space to consider their options. Guests are supported by an IDAS worker and hosts receive full support and comprehensive training.
Download our posters and display them in your local area
Join one of our fundraising events or start your own
Here more from our staff, volunteers and those we have supported.
