Domestic Abuse: Victims and Survivors

Baroness Morris of Bolton Excerpts

Thursday 12th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Morris of Bolton (Con)]

My Lords, it gives me the greatest pleasure to support my noble friend Lady Chisholm of Owlpen today. I thank her for her powerful opening speech and for giving us the chance to debate this most important and deeply concerning topic. My noble friend mentioned Her Majesty the Queen’s documentary on domestic violence, “Behind Closed Doors”, which was moving and compassionate but often uncomfortable and chilling viewing. It should make us all look for the best and most immediate ways to break this evil cycle.

In Bolton, we are blessed with a wonderful refuge, Fortalice, which opened its doors 47 years ago to women and children to keep them safe from domestic abuse and violence. Over the years, it has grown to offer not just a refuge but 22 services within the community, including a children and young people’s hub. It delivers programmes and early intervention aimed at breaking the cycle of abuse and helping children work through the trauma they have suffered.

Started by a group of friends, Fortalice is now led by two equally inspiring and determined women: the CEO, Gill Smallwood, and chair, Diane Hawkins, who is the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. Under their leadership, and supported by a team of dedicated staff, Fortalice has gone from strength to strength. Gill has always believed that we need to look after victims at a local level. When she first arrived at Fortalice, 13 years ago, she saw that there was a huge gap in some working partnerships. She duly forged a partnership with the police, which meant victims were reached as early as possible because help was in the right place, at the right time. Through this essential early intervention programme, the police came to value its work, which was also educational, especially when dealing with an area where violence may not be immediately obvious and is often not taken as seriously as it should be.

Attempts to scale this up to a regional level lost that essential local element; when you lose that, victims too get lost. Local commissioning reduces trauma for the whole family, especially where children are involved, because local services understand the needs of their communities and can react in a timely way, especially with rising demand and complex needs.

Last year, the office of the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester asked Fortalice to run a local pilot partnership with the police, similar to the original programme. Built on highly trained volunteers drawn from all walks of life, including former police officers, teachers, counsellors, students and survivors of domestic violence, they go out on appointments with the police, meaning that once again the right people are in the right place, at the right time, with the right skills. They provide a lifeline of protection and support, and a rebuilding of self-esteem and trust, which domestic abuse in all its forms so cruelly erodes. We are rightly proud of all they do. I pay tribute to all who work in this distressing but vital area.