WOKINGHAM Rotary Club welcomed visiting speaker Vickie Robertson, founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope UK, to its recent meeting.
Vickie was there to explain how her Finchampstead-based charity supports survivors of domestic abuse and violence.
Charity supporter Ray Little shared Vickie’s words with Wokingham.Today.
“Vickie told us that the burning issue at the moment seems to be the murder rate associated with women breaking out of violent relationships,” he said.
“In her talk, Vickie explained that on average, two female victims of domestic violence are murdered per week.”
For the first time, however, the number of their suicides has overtaken that figure, with an average of three women domestic violence victims taking their lives every week.
The most dangerous time for victim-survivors is after separation, when perpetrators want to retain control, and post separation abuse can continue long after the relationship ends.
“It’s now regarded as a crime, but what is needed is more prevention, protection, prosecution, and education, Vickie explained to us,” said Ray.
“Perhaps if we looked at the root causes of violent behaviour and tackled them with early intervention and support, we might see a reduction, she told us.”
Ms. Robertson described to the group her own history of abuse, both as a child and as an adult in an abusive relationship, which led to her setting up Kaleidoscopic UK in 2019.
The charity is run by volunteers, mainly survivors of domestic violence themselves, and to begin with 90% of referrals came from professionals.
Now 90% are self referrals.
Kaleidoscopic UK runs 10 sanctuary support groups across England and Wales.
At each one, between 10 and 25 victim-survivors can find support in recovery, and the confidence to move on.
The charity also offers various specialist support services, including a police-funded liberation programme to break the cycle of violence, and a Wokingham Borough Council-supported survivors’ programme for children and teenagers.
And its schools education programme emphasises prevention, healthy relationships and boundaries.
While males are the majority of perpetrators of domestic violence, Vickie explained that the charity is receiving an increasing number of referrals from male victim-survivors needing support.
“Vickie explained that men can suffer, too, with the stigma of domestic violence, victim blaming, and the shame some feel after failed attempts at separation, still deterring victims from coming forward,” said Ray.
“Domestic violence breeds in silence, she said.”
For information, visit: kaleidoscopic.ukand rotary-ribi.org
