Demand for domestic abuse support soars as women ‘imprisoned’ in lockdown try to escape

DEMAND: Winner, known locally as Purple House

By Rick Lyon

A charity that supports victims of domestic abuse has seen a huge increase in cases as women have been “imprisoned” with their violent partners during lockdown and are now trying to escape as restrictions have lifted.

Winner, based at Preston Road Women’s Centre, east Hull, provides a wide range of services for women and children subjected to abuse, including more than 200 safe properties for them to flee to.

The charity, know locally as Purple House because of its distinctive building, also provides specialist domestic advice, one-to-one advocacy, training courses, a nursery and affordable legal support all under one roof.

Trustee and treasurer Lisa Hilder, who has been involved with Purple House for 20 years, has revealed demand for support has increased significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We knew what was coming and we saw a significant spike at the beginning of lockdown,” she said.

“Our referrals went up by 47 per cent in April and we were very, very busy.

“We reorganised as best we could, recognising we wouldn’t be able to see women face-to-face. We very quickly moved to online and telephone support, linking in with the agencies we normally work with to make sure all these referral routes were open.

“Our staff went above and beyond, working extra hours and making themselves available.”

The charity normally deals with an average of 35 referrals each month. These include women coming forward themselves for support or being referred to Purple House by another agency.

During lockdown, this increased to up to 55 new cases per month.

Now, following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, demand for support continues to be higher than normal as these women try to escape their abuse relationships.

“As lockdown lifted, more opportunities presented themselves for women to leave,” Lisa told The Hull Story.

“These women were imprisoned but now they can get out to friends and family and get out to us – and they are doing. We’re running at significantly above our usual capacity.”

‘IMPRISONED’: Victims of abuse were trapped during lockdown. Picture provided by Humberside Police

On average, Purple House supports 600-700 women each year through its domestic abuse service, as well as hundreds more with advice and guidance.

It runs with 43 staff and up to 40 volunteers at any one time, with the building’s suffragette-inspired colours of purple, green and white representing women’s rights.

Despite the prevalence of domestic abuse – two women are killed by a partner or ex-partner every week in the UK – Lisa believes the issue still does not receive enough attention.

“Abuse takes many forms but it’s all underpinned by a pattern of power and control,” she said.

“The physical abuse is often the tip of the iceberg. There’s the emotional and psychological abuse and sexual assault. There’s also financial abuse – for example, perpetrators might take out loans in a women’s name and then she’s left to pay the debt.

“The perpetrator will isolate a woman from her support network, including her friends and family. This can include forbidding them to see them or physically moving a long way away, making threats to the children – every heinous thing a human can do to another.

“In the most extreme cases, women can be stripped of their identity.

“It’s all part of this pattern of power and control and one in four women will, at some point in their lives, be in an abusive relationship. It’s everywhere.

“Women will often say that the bruises and broken bones heal but what stays with them is the psychological abuse and the manipulation.

“Leaving an abusive relationship is not easy. It’s one of the bravest things a woman can do.”

With coronavirus cases increasing again, and the prospect of a second lockdown, Lisa said the team at Purple House are braced for a further spike in demand.

“We’re prepared for it, having gone through it once already,” she said.

“We’ll just have to see what happens.”

To find out more about the support available at Purple House, visit www.purplehouse.co.uk, call 01482 790310 or email: info@purplehouse.co.uk.

·        Three friends are attempting to complete seven marathons between them throughout September to raise funds for Purple House. To find out more, and to make a donation, click here.