Ballynahinch played host to a fun event recently with a serious message to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2014. The event was organised by Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) in association with the South Eastern Domestic Violence Partnership (SEDVP) and PSNI.xa0
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The meeting in the Market House in Ballynahinch were Patricia McMurray, South Eastern Domestic Violence Partnership (SEDVP); Sgt Nigel Donnelly, PSNI; Ellen Brennan, Down PCSP; Constable Veronica Bailie, PSNI; Lucy MacLaughlin; Jude Graham, Down District Council; and Sheila Simmons, Chairperson SEDVP[/caption]A new SEDVP Helpline number card was formally launched by Sheila Simons, Chair of the SEDVP. The number is not disclosed by 1471 nor does it register on any phone bill thus eliminating the fear of being detected.
On Thursday 6 March 2014, Everyone who came along enjoyed the hospitality kindly provided by ‘C’ District PSNI and were impressed with the range of voluntary and statutory agencies exhibiting at the event. The fun element was provided by the very talented Lucy MacLaughlin who demonstrated how to ‘up-cycle’ last year’s wardrobe.
Pampering and being good to yourself was also an important aspect of the day with SERC Beauty students, Mary Jane, Aromatherapy and Active Communities Coach kindly gave their services free of charge and were inundated with customers.xa0 Mairead Rodgers from Donard King & Co Solicitors attended the event in a professional capacity and kindly offered confidential one to one consultations.
Sheila Simons, Chairperson of the SEDVP advised attendees that there were 27,190 incidents of domestic abuse in N Ireland recorded in 2012/13 equating to an incident occurring every 19 minutes of every day, and said: “Whilst the vast majority of victims are women a significant number of men are also affected and abuse also occurs in same-sex relationships.xa0 I would also like to thank Down PCSP for sponsoring the ‘Safe Helpline Card’, the SEDVP for their on-going work in combating domestic and sexual abuse and the PSNI for their continued support.”
Sgt Nigel Donnelly, PSNI,xa0 thanked everyone who had contributed to such a successful event and hoped that similar events to highlight Domestic and Sexual Violence would be organised in future.xa0 In particular he thanked Down PCSP and Ellen Brennan, Project Officer for sponsoring and organising such an enjoyable and useful networking event.
PCSP Chair, Councillor Willie Clarke, speaking on the success of the event said: “It is heartening for me to see how much support there has been to highlight the issue of domestic and sexual violence.xa0 As a partnership we have to thank everyone involved and who successfully managed to achieve a delicate balance of dealing with a very serious issue in an atmosphere of fun and relaxation.”
If you are currently being affected by Domestic and Sexual Violence please contact the confidential helpline on 0808 802 1414, the number will not be detected by 1471 or show on any phone bill and you do not even have to give your name.
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