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Swindon Wide
Swindon Wide
26
26
the bigger picture
Teenager Charlotte pital, but they didn’t report
from West Swindon the incident to the police for
and a friend were fear of reprisals.
subject to a totally However she has focussed
unprovoked attack part of an urban landscape A
by two other young Level photography module at
women close to the New College on exploring her
fair next to the Link fears and anxieties of being
Centre in Septem- on her own in public places.
ber. She writes: ‘I have used
She was bruised, the experience to convey my
her friend had to be feelings visually.
treated in casualty at ‘I get uncomfortable
Great Western Hos- being on my own when
travelling or in empty and
abandoned places. Even
when you’re surrounded
by people that you have
no connection with, I
sometimes get the sense
of being vulnerable that
they could pose a threat.’
Unlocking the truth on
abuse behind the front door
Hometruths celebrates its first anniversary early in 2012 following a very
successful year, providing services to survivors of domestic violence and
abuse in Swindon and Wiltshire.
There were 2,734
incidents of domes-
tic abuse in Swin-
don alone in 2010/11,
but Hometruths was
founded by Mary Co-
sker and Kim Swinden
to reach the people
who do not report
ex-partner or family
harm from a partner,
member to the police
or other agencies.
“We have worked
very hard this year to
establish Hometruths
within Swindon and its Kim and Mary of Home Truths
surroundings,” said Mary “We are As well as one-to-one support,
keen to build on these foundations Hometruths coordinates engage-
to continue the good work with ment groups:
our partner agencies and develop Tears Survivors’ Forum gives
sustainable services for anyone survivors in Swindon a voice to
experiencing emotional, physical affect change within local services;
The Freedom Programme is
or psychological harm” a weekly group for survivors to
Co-founder Kim believes Home-
truths is just scratching the surface understand the behaviour of their
of damage being done behind the abusive partner and the impact on
net curtains. “Using the national themselves and their children;
estimate that 80 per cent of people The New Beginnings pilot group
do not report, potentially there are a to start early this year will be for
further 11,000 incidents in Swindon survivors free from an abusive re-
that remain hidden. We recognise lationship, but who have lost their
that many people are too afraid to identity, confidence or self esteem,
speak out about their experiences and feel daunted by the future.
of abuse. Perpetrators of domestic Hometruths also provides training
abuse are skilled at manipulating to professionals and agencies in the
and many survivors don’t recognise statutory, voluntary and commercial
what they are going through. sectors.
“Our aim is to offer Hometruths’ For details call Mary and Kim on
specialist services to make a differ- 617589 or mail: info@hometruths.
ence to individuals as well as make coop
change within our society.” www.hometruths.coop
21-48 January 12.indd 26 16/12/2011 12:19
