Saoirse raising awareness of domestic violence and abuse
By Mary Dennehy
SAOIRSE Women’s Refuge is encouraging members of the community to help them raise awareness around the issue of domestic violence and abuse – and to raise funds to support their services.
As part of the international 16 days campaign, which runs every year from November 25 to December 10, the local refuge and outreach service is inviting the community to take steps locally.
Nadine O'Brien from Saoirse
The theme of the Tallaght-based refuge’s campaign this year is, Our Community Our Problem – with everyone invited to join them in their 16 days campaign.
In a call-out to the community, the team at Saoirse, said: “Saoirse is calling out to all families and members of the community to join us in our campaign supporting an end to violence against women.
“This marks the time of year in our calendar when we campaign and raise awareness around the issue of domestic violence and abuse.”
Starting on November 25, Saoirse is inviting members of the community to join them as they walk 6,000 steps for 16 days.
Members of the public can show support by challenging themselves to do 6,000 steps a day for 16 days and help raise awareness by posting a picture and tagging Saoirse.
Local people and businesses can also get behind Saoirse by donating what they can.
Speaking with The Echo this week, Nadine O’Brien, Outreach and Prevention officer with Saoirse, spoke of the huge challenges faced by services due to Covid-19.
Saoirse’s outreach service alone supported 521 families in the first six months of the pandemic, from March to August.
The outreach service also worked with 974 children (under the age of 18) and received 3,483 support calls.
“There has been a huge increase on our normal numbers [for outreach]”, Nadine said.
“We have also had an increase in calls from other community services which have been reaching out to us for advice and support.”
She added: “I couldn’t even put into words how the past few months have been.
“We are adapting how we work while trying to continue the delivery of excellent services and care, all within guidelines and restrictions.”
Nadine has encouraged members of the public to support the refuge in the coming weeks, stressing that all money raised will go towards the delivery of services.
“All money raised will go to service provision”, Nadine said.
“It will make sure that women and children have what they need when they access the service, right down to pjs.
“It will also help us to support families over the Christmas.”
As part of its campaign, Saoirse is also showcasing a visual display in Rua Red on December 3 at 11am, which will demonstrate ‘the knock-on effects of this particular type of violence in our communities, our society’.
To close out the campaign on December 10, Saoirse will virtually launch its 2019 Annual Report, which will highlight the impact of the refuge and outreach services on the lives of women, children and families who access services.
For further information and how to help raise awareness or funds, visit Saoirse Women’s Refuge on Facebook or www.saoirsewomensrefuge.ie.
Donations can be made through the website or Facebook.
Anybody in need of support is encouraged to call Saoirse’s 24-hour helpline on 01 463000.
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