Presentation by the Chief Executive, Mark Hutcheon.

The Chairman welcomed the Chief Executive of Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services ( DAVSS ), Mark Hutcheon, to the meeting.

He stated that the main issue for DAVSS was raising its profile.  It was a community-based charity created in April 2011 and provided support for anyone, man or woman.  They delivered their service on an innovative cost effective volunteer model, relying on volunteers to deliver their services with a small number of paid staff. They worked across West Kent covering Sevenoaks District, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells.  Demand had increased dramatically since 2011.  The year ending 2016, there had been over 741 referrals (including 52 men) which had been a 16% increase on the previous year.  1044 affected children (an increase of 395) and 800 calls to the helpline.  Research showed that at some point in their lives, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men would experience domestic abuse and many victims endured abuse for years before seeking help. Every week in the UK alone, 2 women die as a result of domestic abuse. The aim was to break the cycle of abuse, enable survivors to take control of their lives again and improve life opportunities for their children who are often traumatised by their experiences.   

Volunteers were needed not just as Advisors but for other tasks such as administration, fundraising, social media.  50/60% of referrals were from West Kent Police, next biggest was self referrals then other agencies including health and social services, and voluntary organisations.  They provided practical and individual support to  our clients  including: access to a Helpline weekday mornings giving immediate safety advice (answerphone outside of these hours); face-to-face support at venues convenient to clients for those at high risk of serious harm, offering them options  for  action and support; signposting to other agencies or voluntary groups e.g. Police, Social Services, Citizens Advice, Benefits and Housing, Health Professionals, Counselling etc.; support to Court to clients who often found this process very daunting and frightening; and raising public awareness by arranging presentations, workshops, attending business and community events and providing safe and healthy relationship courses for young people in schools and colleges.

In response to questions Mr. Hutcheon advised that the The Serious Crime Act 2015 had not been retrospective and had relied on a pattern of behaviour, therefore they were only just starting to see any of these cases coming forward.  With regards to helping ‘perpetrators’, first of all they had to recognise themselves that they had a problem, but there were 6 month (27 sessions)  CDAP (Community Domestic Abuse Programme) programme.  He also advised that with regards to whether there were enough refuges, placing someone in one was a last resort and as yet they had not been unable to place someone.

It was suggested that Parish and Town Councils would be able to help promote the service and he would be passed the contact details of Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC

).

The Chairman thanked Mr. Hutcheon for attending.

(Cllr. Scott left the meeting for the above item and did not take part in the debate or voting thereon)