This article is from page 21 of the 2013-11-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
ARE the services for people affected by domestic abuse in County Clare serving people’s need or are there gaps in the system. That is the question being put to those that know best, the people that have used the services.
The HSE has said this week that domestic abuse and sexual violence is an alarming problem in our country. As a result the Speak Up Café initiative has been organised to involve individuals who have been affected by domestic abuse and/or sexual violence to come and tell organisations how services can be improved.
The Speak Up Café event in Clare will take place in the Temple Gate Hotel, 11am to 2pm, and is part of a wide range of initiatives undertaken by the Mid West Regional Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women and local agencies during the 16 Days of Action Campaign.
The 16 Days of Action Campaign is an international campaign to raise awareness of the reality of domestic abuse and violence and to push for positive change to increase women’s safety.
The café is open to individuals who have experienced domestic abuse and/or sexual violence either currently or in the past. It is open to family members and close friends who may be living with or supporting survivors. It is also aimed at those who may not have accessed a service but could have potentially benefited from doing so.
“The Speak Up Café model is built on the assumption that people already have within them the wisdom and expertise to advise organisations as to what’s important when dealing with a crisis or on-going problems related to domestic abuse and /or sexual violence. The organisers believe that by listening to what the public and service users say is essential if organisations wish to improve services. The changes will make services more relevant, of a higher quality and which staff are proud to provide,” a spokesperson said.
Anyone who would like to voice their opinion at any of these events in the mid west region, just drop in to the café and meet informally with a representative of an organisation and chat with others with similar experiences. Those that cannot attend on the day, can also phone in with comments on the free phone number 1800 311 511 or complete the on-line survey. For further details see www. midwestvaw.ie.