Withernsea Town Council will host a Domestic Abuse Awareness Day on Saturday 29th November, from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Meridian Centre.
The event aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse, highlight the scale of the issue, and provide clear information about how victims, families and members of the community can seek support.
Attendees will be able to access advice about recognising domestic abuse, where to get help, and which agencies to contact.
Private rooms inside the centre will be available for anyone wishing to speak confidentially with trained professionals.
Support will be provided by Humberside Police, the White Ribbon Campaign, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and Withernsea Town Council.
Cllr. Jacqui Blackburn said:
“Domestic abuse devastates lives, families and entire communities. Awareness is the first step toward ensuring that people feel able to reach out, seek support, and know they are not alone.”
Cllr. Ian Blackburn added:
“We hope that this event helps break the silence that traps so many victims. By working together as a community, we can help end this scourge on our society.”
The event is open to everyone—whether seeking advice, concerned about someone else, or wishing to learn more about how to support victims and help prevent abuse.
Domestic abuse affects individuals and families across every part of the UK. Many cases remain unreported, meaning official statistics reflect only part of the true scale of the issue. Key national figures for England and Wales include:
- 3.9 million people aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024.
- 2.3 million women (9.5% of women)
- 1.5 million men (6.5% of men)
- 1 in 4 people have experienced domestic abuse at some point since age 16.
- Over 75,000 people each year in the UK face a high and imminent risk of serious injury or death due to domestic abuse.
- Women are significantly more likely to experience severe domestic abuse:
- 92% of people accessing IDVA services were women.
- 94% of people referred to Marac were women.
- 1.5 million domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes were recorded in the most recent year.
- An average of eight women a month are killed by a current or former partner.
- Over 105,000 children live in homes where high-risk domestic abuse is present, and 78% are directly harmed by the perpetrator.
Victims at high risk typically live with abuse for 2.5 years before receiving effective help, often seeking assistance multiple times before support is secured.
Domestic abuse remains a largely hidden crime. Many victims never contact the police, making community awareness and accessible support essential.
