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We have signed up to a new national campaign to help tackle domestic abuse in local communities.

The Make a Stand campaign centres around a pledge, which has been developed by the Chartered Institute of Housing in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA).

It consists of four commitments, which housing organisations can make to support people that live and work in housing who are experiencing domestic abuse.

The four commitments are:

• To put in place and embed a policy to support residents who are experiencing domestic abuse
• To make information about national and local domestic abuse support services available on your website and in other places which are easily accessible to residents and staff
• To put in place a HR policy and procedure on domestic abuse, or to incorporate this into an existing policy, to support members of staff who are experiencing domestic abuse
• Appoint a champion in your organisation to own the activity you are doing to support people experiencing domestic abuse.

Gemma Parlby, our Head of Support and Safeguarding, said: “At Bolton at Home we are proud to support the Make a Stand Pledge and call others to action to take a stand.

“Domestic Abuse and Violence destroys lives. We all have a responsibility to listen to victims and survivors and respond effectively.

“Domestic abuse and violence is never acceptable.”

Alison Inman, CIH president, said: “I’m thrilled that Bolton at Home has signed the Make a Stand pledge as this could make a very real difference in local communities.

“Domestic abuse is one of the biggest problems we face today. Millions of people are affected and two women a week are being killed by their partner or ex-partner.

“Housing organisations house and employ millions of people and it is our duty to do more to tackle this issue. These are our homes, our people and this is our problem.

“By signing the Make a Stand pledge, Bolton at Home has committed to supporting people in its communities and it is no exaggeration to say that this could save a life.”

Kelly Henderson, co-founder of DAHA, said: “We are very proud to be part of this pledge and commend Bolton at Home for signing up. We know the housing sector plays a crucial role in recognising and responding to domestic abuse and this pledge is a really easy way to not only demonstrate commitment but also take the first practical steps to improving the response for both staff and residents.”

Katie Ghose, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “For thousands of women and children across the country, their home is the most dangerous place they can be.

“By signing up to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Make a Stand pledge, Bolton at Home has sent out a powerful message to survivors of domestic abuse that they are not alone and that there is help and support available to them.”

Make a Stand was launched as part of CIH president Alison Inman’s presidential appeal and Jim Strang has already agreed to continue to support the same cause when he takes the helm in September.

Organisations can sign the Make a Stand pledge on CIH’s website and receive a support pack and other information to help them put the commitments in the pledge in place.

For more information on Make a Stand, click here.

For more information on how we can help with domestic abuse, click here.

You can also read what Karen Allsop, our Housing Support and Sustainment Manager, says we are doing to help those experiencing domestic abuse, click here.