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WelcomeWelcome to the Standing Together Against Domestic Violence web site. This site will give you information about our structure, our projects, and our work. To get helpStanding Together Against Domestic Violence work with statutory and voluntary sector agencies only. We do not work directly with who people are experiencing domestic violence. If you are experiencing domestic violence please contact the numbers listed below or refer to your council's web site (look for information on community safety) as it may include information about domestic violence services in your area. If you are in immediate danger, ring the police on 999. If the danger is not immediate, contact your local police station. For 24-hour information, advice and support, contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline: Freephone 0808 2000 247 (run by Women's Aid and Refuge). If you are concerned that an abuser could find out that you have accessed this or other sites, please read this advice. NewsWest London Academy We would also like to thank the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative for making this opportunity possible. The YPI work with young people to increase their understanding about the work of charities and how philanthropists (rich and poor) can support them. Thank you also to teacher Claire Samuel for all her work in setting the event up. The 112
The reason for the 112 miles? On average 112 women are murdered by their partners every year. This is a horrific figure which underlines the importance of action to combat domestic violence. Of course this is only part of a picture which sees one in ten women every year suffer abuse from their partner. So to the bike ride. The organisation had taken months, with the design of a complicated and beautiful route from Windsor out through the Thames Valley, past Oxford returning to Windsor many hours later. The refreshments, checkpoints and signposting were all elements of a busy day for volunteers helping Standing Together. The brave soul who made 125 cup cakes for those who completed the ride is an example of the efforts expended to make the event a success – and replace some of the calories burnt off! Some participants wanted to demonstrate their support but thought 112 miles individually may be too much of a challenge for unfit legs, or others who were understandably less enthusiastic about taking their chances with impatient motorists. These people had two choices. They were able to undertake a relay where a small team rode sections of the route but as a team completed the whole distance. The other option was the “roundabout” where a team could ride laps of Windsor Great Park until they had completed 112 miles. We mostly began at 8am in a somewhat subdued fashion. Virtually every rider was cycling beyond their comfort zone. The routes (both the park and the main road version) contained hills which were a little daunting. Opinion was divided as to which of the hills was the worst. Those around Bledlow, one interminable upward slope shortly after checkpoint 3 – at about 85 miles – or leaving Henley towards Remenham, were all strong contenders. Actually the cumulative effect was probably the most challenging thing and those who did the whole route have entered Standing Together’s “most admired” list of people.
For those on the route it was a longer day.. There were surprisingly few problems in terms of mechanical upsets. Only two punctures were recorded, one chain mishap and no apparent crashes. Every single rider completed either the challenge of the full distance or their element of the relay. First back were the team known as the hares at about 5pm. Rather delightfully clothed in professional racing gear with substantial leg musculature they seemed able to laugh and ride too quickly for the other participants. If one looked carefully one could see a hint of breathlessness at the top of hills but generally it seemed a nice day out for these seasoned cyclists Others found it a little harder. Varying pace was probably the best way of describing their finishing methods but all were in within 90 minutes of the hares. Once again the cup cakes got a bit of a bashing leaving only a couple for the youngest supporters – two very small children who had come along to support their dad. The most notable thing was everyone’s obvious joy at the finish. Virtually every rider had beaten their previous best mileage. They had found the event well organised and they all understood a little more about domestic violence and were proud that they had done their bit to change the world. The feeling of euphoria has persisted to such an extent that we have all agreed to come back next year when we will allow a few more riders to join the fun, now we have proved the concept. Thanks must go to our sponsors – VitaminGlaceau for much needed drinks and Marks and Spencers for more solid sustenance.
Please support us by filling out and returning this sponsorship form, or by visiting our justgiving site at http://www.justgiving.com/standingtogetheragainstdomesticviolence. Domestic abuse: Best Practice Papers — Written by and for Practitioners and TrainersStanding Together against Domestic Violence and its partner agencies have extensive experience of developing best practice guidance for many aspects of operational domestic violence work, by both single agencies and by multi agency groups. A number of publications we have produced over the past 10 years specifically address best practice, for example the SDVC Toolkit (2007), and Equal Voices, about the experience of policing and the courts for LGBT survivors. We have now produced the first in a new series of shorter publications called: The Checklist is designed for one to one interviews, and not specifically for court or to take account of the codes of guidance covering police interview settings. However, many of the good practice ideas are generic. These papers will summarise best practice and ideas for practitioners who are responding to domestic abuse from within a range of statutory, community and voluntary sector services and agencies. They will be disseminated free by email and on the Standing Together website. Let us know…If you have any suggestions or requests for future papers in the series, please contact Standing Together. If you would like to offer to provide material for a Best Practice Paper, we would like to hear from you! ResearchIn 2007 Standing Together were commissioned by London Councils to undertake research into the extent of help seeking by known victims of domestic violence across various statutory and voluntary agencies. This report, entitled, Completing the Jigsaw — Help-seeking by survivors of domestic violence: What’s the problem? gives an insight into the extent of domestic violence as a cross-cutting theme and the responses that agencies deliver, both when domestic violence is identified and when it has not been recognised. The research supports the assertion that this crime remains hidden from public view and often from the view of the worker who is trying to resolve the presenting issues of an individual who is unsafe, lacking confidence and suffering from significant abuse. Unless the causes of these symptoms are identified it is axiomatic that solutions offered to those symptoms are unlikely to be effective.
Consultancy ServicesStanding Together offer support and guidance to domestic violence partnerships if they are seeking to build a community coordinated response, a Specialist Domestic Violence Court or many other aspects of responding to domestic violence. Standing Together has published unique reports and resources around the work of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court at West London Magistrates Court and LGBT survivors. For further information visit the Publications page or order directly.
This site was last updated in July 2009. |
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Standing Together would like to thank the students of West London Academy, Dahaba Ali Hussein, Adam Chakar, Ricardo Escoffery, and Corina Palmer (pictured at right) whose participative and innovative presentation on Standing Together against Domestic Violence won the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative competition held at their school. This event was part of the student’s year 10 GCSE Citizenship course work, and secured £3000 for Standing Together.
On May 9th 2009 Standing Together Against Domestic Violence organised a charity bike ride to publicise the effects of domestic violence – and to raise funds for the charity. The principle was simple. Either individuals or teams had to ride a combination of 112 miles.
At each of the three checkpoints, and the start and finish line for the roundabouters, a variety of water, fruit, energy bars, baguettes and pasta salads were provided. It was clear that energy expenditure on this scale improves ones appetite and the intake of calories was almost as impressive as the ride itself. The roundabouters put in a great effort to ride en masse and incredibly quickly. Circumnavigating dogs and pedestrians slowed them a bit but the members of this team knocked off the miles by late morning. They were able to eat their cup cakes and make the most of their Saturday off.
Finally Standing Together wants to especially thank the following riders for their fantastic efforts on the day:| About Us |
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