New funding enables Deaf Domestic Abuse Service to expand nationwide (BSL)

SignHealth, the deaf health charity, has been awarded funding from the Home Office to expand a vital Domestic Abuse service to other regions in England.

To watch this announcement in BSL, press play below:

This funding, from the Home Office’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Support and Specialist Fund, will expand SignHealth’s Domestic Abuse Services for the next two years, including the recruitment of 14 new staff members.

SignHealth will provide specialist and culturally appropriate Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisors (IDSVAs) and Domestic Abuse Navigators (DANs).

The service will also be providing support for Deaf victims of sexual violence too. SignHealth are looking forward to working with local organisations to provide support across England.

Deaf women suffer twice the level, and Deaf children three times the level, of domestic violence as their hearing peers (British Crime Survey, 2010).

Mainstream services usually lack Deaf awareness, BSL interpreting budgets or specialist accessibility equipment.

Most domestic abuse services are not equipped to support Deaf people, at best they will provide BSL interpreters, but this is not as effective as support from someone with lived experience of deafness and who can communicate directly in British Sign Language (BSL).

Some refuges refuse to accept Deaf women escaping violence, citing health and safety in accommodating their access requirements.

Deaf survivors have difficulties with communication support for housing, domestic abuse support, criminal justice system, health, finance and support with family. These result in delays for Deaf people in crisis.

64% of the Deaf women SignHealth have supported in London were in a relationship with a Deaf perpetrator, further exacerbating social isolation from their own community. The most valuable part of their recovery is knowing that we have supported other Deaf survivors.

SignHealth have over 12 years’ experience of delivering Deaf domestic abuse services. The SignHealth service is delivered entirely by a professional team of trained Deaf staff, which makes it extremely cost effective in terms of reducing interpreter costs for day-to-day delivery.

The charity’s vision is to see all Deaf survivors empowered, protected and able to benefit from accessible BSL support that meets their needs.

Marie Vickers, Head of Domestic Abuse Service at SignHealth said: “Our experience shows that it is essential that Deaf survivors of Domestic Abuse receive local specialist support in their home area in addition to mainstream provision. It is vital that Deaf BSL users have the option to communicate in their first language with specialist staff who have lived experience. We are grateful that the Home Office has awarded us this incredible opportunity to create greater impact for the Deaf community.”