Staffordshire Commissioner Matthew Ellis saw first-hand how the New Era domestic abuse service is providing consistent support to residents across the county, when he visited their Stafford offices.
New Era operates across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, providing free, confidential support and services for all those affected by domestic abuse. The service ensures consistency for victims and their families, who no longer face a postcode lottery when they need specialist support.
Aiming to end relationship abuse, New Era focuses on prevention and early intervention as well as targeted and acute support. It also offers help to anyone who is displaying unhealthy or abusive behaviour within their relationship and wants to change this.
The service was commissioned by Mr Ellis with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council and is run jointly by Victim Support and the Reducing Reoffending Partnership.
During his visit, Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis met members of the specialist teams who work with people of all ages, as well as volunteers who support their valuable work.
Mr Ellis said: “As well as seeing first-hand the great work going on, I’ve also been hearing how complex some cases can be and why it is essential that agencies and professionals work together.
“Domestic abuse, be it physical or emotional, is a scourge on society which had remained hidden behind closed doors, but over recent years the support available has been transformed.
“The growing numbers of people in the most difficult circumstances seeking help from abuse a year or so on from when we established New Era is enormously encouraging, but also thoroughly depressing.
“Confidence in seeking help is vital and the work I’ve seen today reassures me that the support available is improving substantially through the myriad of services being provided by New Era.
“Following today’s visit, I will be looking again at additional funding for these vital services.”
Mickey Hemmings, New Era’s acting head of service, added: “New Era supports anyone in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent affected by domestic abuse. Often people don’t realise that what they’re experiencing is actually domestic abuse which is why raising awareness is an important part of our work as well as supporting individuals and their families.”
Find out more about New Era.
