Domestic Abuse Survivor Encourages Others to Seek Support, Highlighting DASA Project’s Impact

Hannah recounted the evident effects on her children following the dissolution of her 17-year abusive marriage. She stated, “The children saw a lot that children shouldn’t have to see.” Hannah added, “They were hurting, but I’m a dental nurse, I’m not a therapist. And, with them all having different issues, I didn’t know how to help them.” Seeking assistance, Hannah received support from a Family Domestic Abuse Support Advisor (DASA), a role that collaborates with social work teams. The 37-year-old explained, “She helped me by making me feel like I wasn’t going insane.” She further noted, “She didn’t just offer emotional support and help around feeling safe, she was also there for practical things so it really helped.” Hannah also mentioned that her children had each gained from personalized support. Hannah indicated her decision to share her story publicly aims to motivate others to seek assistance. She asserted, “You don’t feel like you deserve the help because you are an adult; you put yourself in that situation. But I highly recommend taking that help and you do deserve it.” The initiative that provided aid to Hannah and her children has assisted nearly 900 families throughout Cornwall over a period of two-and-a-half years. First Light, a charity focused on domestic abuse and sexual violence, commissioned by Cornwall Council, employs the DASAs. These Family DASAs collaborate with assigned children’s social workers to deliver direct support, advice, and guidance to families affected by domestic abuse. Sian Lawrence, a team leader, stated that the core objective is to disrupt the cycle of abuse within families. She remarked, “If you’ve been brought up in a family and there’s been abuse, that’s normal for you, and it’s about us making sure that that doesn’t continue.” Rebecca Sargent, head of service and project lead at Cornwall Council, highlighted that domestic abuse can profoundly affect the lives of children and families. She explained, “It can impact on a child’s health, education and social needs, and there may be other issues such as housing and financial difficulties that children and families experience as a result of domestic abuse.” Family DASAs are equipped to collaborate with social workers and other social care personnel, facilitating access to support for children and their families, thereby ensuring they promptly receive the appropriate assistance required. Ann Toms, domestic abuse manager at First Light, commented, “The DASA project has really gone from strength to strength and now plays a vital and integral role in child safeguarding.” She added, “Since it began, we have shown that the family DASAs have improved families’ lives and reduced risk.” Hannah concluded, “With the help the children are getting, and the help that I’ve got, I know which way is forward now. “I’m not going backwards, I’m back on track.” For additional information and updates, BBC Cornwall and BBC Devon can be followed on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story submissions are accepted at spotlight@bbc.co.uk. This material is copyrighted by BBC 2024. The BBC bears no responsibility for content on external websites and details its approach to external linking.