Domestic abuse support at coffee morning this Thursday

A group for people experiencing domestic abuse is holding a coffee morning on Thursday September 19 in Ashton.

Held at the Women & Families Centre on the ground floor of Cavendish Mill, it will offer advice and guidance to anybody in a domestic abuse situation, as well as for those concerned about others who they want to support. 

“Bridge Partnership, our specialist DA support service, will be there alongside domestic abuse officers for Greater Manchester Police, and Drug and Alcohol workers from CGL (Change, Grow, Live),” said a statement from the organisers.  

“This is an opportunity for anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse – or is worried about someone else – to call in, speak with trusted professionals and receive specialist support, advice and guidance.” 

According to the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures, 2.1m people across England and Wales – two-thirds of them women – experienced abuse from a partner, ex-partner or a relative in the year leading up to March 2023. 

However, despite recording almost 900,000 crimes related to domestic abuse over the same period, it resulted in only 51,288 prosecutions. 

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 outlines the following behaviours as abuse: 

• physical or sexual abuse 

• violent or threatening behaviour 

• controlling or coercive behaviour 

• economic abuse 

• psychological, emotional, or other abuse 

It also counts children under 18 who experience or witness the effects of abuse as victims if they are related to the abused adult or the perpetrator. 

The domestic abuse coffee morning will take place between 10am-noon on Thursday September 17 at the Women & Families Centre, Cavendish Mill, Bank Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7DN.