Giving battered women the confidence to speak out

She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears about her work.

CLAIRE Seymour blinks back her tears as she talks about leaving Darlington Domestic Violence Forum. For the last four years, she's been at the heart of the group, and as its co-ordinator, has worked tirelessly to support victims and change people's attitudes. She has been passionate about her job and a powerful advocate for the victims of domestic violence.

Ironically, a testament to her success has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of reported incidents in Darlington over the last year.

"That doesn't mean that there's been an increase in domestic violence. It simply means that more people have the confidence to come forward and say they're not going to take it any more," explains Claire - and that's been her aim all along.

"In the 18th century, there was the rule of thumb, which said that a man could beat his wife with a stick as long as it was no wider than his thumb. In a lot of ways, that idea is still with us, although in the last ten years, I think things have begun to move forward. We're working to change the attitude that it's okay to treat women in this way."

DDVF was set up in June 1999, with Claire as co-ordinator. Her post was funded by the NSPCC and later, Durham and Darlington Crime Reduction Partnership. Sadly, the funding has now run out, and Claire is leaving to take up a new job with the NSPCC on Teesside. She is keen to stress, however, that the forum will continue to meet monthly and she will maintain the website on a voluntary basis.

She says: "We want people to know that the forum will continue but research shows that organisations like this don't work as well without a co-ordinator in post. Darlington Borough Council is really behind the forum and we're hoping that the funding will be in place to appoint a new co-ordinator within three months."

Inevitably, there are issues Claire would have liked to have tackled but she's simply run out of time. A recent RSPCA report made a link between people who abuse animals and those who perpetrate acts of child abuse and domestic violence. It's an area she would like to have explored in more depth. Another is men who abuse and want help, men who haven't yet been to court.

"Once a man has gone through the system, he has access to all sorts of help. We want to help them before they get that far. It's another way of protecting women."

Although Claire would have loved to have carried on with the project, she says she's very pleased with what has been achieved over the last four years.

Key to the work of the forum has been raising awareness. They've put the anti-domestic violence message on the back of Darlington's buses and on council vehicles. Their details have appeared on all mail leaving the town hall, as well as on leaflets and stickers.

"Someone once said to me that domestic violence seems to be a really big issue in Darlington and although we don't have more of a problem than anywhere else, it is a big issue. We've made it one because we want to change the way people think about it."

The situation is beginning to change but the myths about domestic violence are still strong. Recently, Claire was running a training course and someone asked why domestic violence happens only to weak women.

One woman, who was herself a survivor, stood up and explained that she was a professional woman with a degree and her husband was a headmaster. She had been abused for eight years before she finally left. "It just shows how wrong these ideas are," says Claire. "We shouldn't be asking why women stay with violent men. What we want to ask is why do men abuse women?"

Training has been another major focus for the forum. DDVF carried out a public survey, questioning more than 300 people about domestic violence. They wanted to know where someone would turn if they were experiencing violence in the home. Most people said friends and family, followed by health professionals.

"We knew it was important for us to go to health professionals and make sure they were aware of all the issues. It's the same with any professionals and we've worked very closely with both the statutory bodies and voluntary sectors. Research shows that a woman can speak to a dozen people before they get the help they need and that has to change."

One of the forum's biggest successes has been its website, launched in October 2000. To date, it has been visited by more than 10,000 people, both victims and professional, in Darlington and further afield. One inquiry came from a policeman in Australia who was organising a seminar on domestic violence and wanted Claire's advice on how to structure it.

The website also includes online injunctions, a facility for reporting incidents, as well as research documents and helpline numbers.

A survivors' group was set up early on, enabling domestic violence victims to talk to women who had been through a similar experience. Other initiatives include the introduction of the Freedom programme, a course designed to educate women about domestic violence and give them the confidence to take control of their relationships, as well as an information leaflet for children.

The forum has contributed to a series of practice guidelines, aimed at developing a consistent approach to domestic violence across Darlington and County Durham, and has worked on a policy for Darlington Borough Council, which will hopefully be launched when the new co-ordinator is in post.

Claire says: "We have done a lot over the last four years but there's much more still to do. I'm sad that I won't be there but I'm sure the new co-ordinator will build on the foundations we've established."

* You can contact the DDVF helpline on (01325) 364486 or visit the website at www.ddvf.org