Freemasons offer comfort to those fleeing domestic abuse
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Domestic abuse victims escaping violence often arrive in refuges with nothing more than the clothes on their backs – so Lincolnshire Freemasons have given £5,000 to help them on a journey to a new and abuse-free life.
The money is being given to EDAN Lincs, a charity based in Lincolnshire, and will be used to make about 100 packs of essentials for victims and their children coming to any of the 21 refuges it operates county-wide.
Lucy is a fundraising co-ordinator at EDAN Lincs (which stands for Ending Domestic Abuse Now Lincolnshire). She said: “This money will provide useful resources to people who access our service after fleeing domestic abuse by means of packages tailored to individual needs as they arrive in refuge.
“The packages will be to the value of about £50, and could include bedding, toiletries, toys and games for children, and other essential items – whatever is appropriate to the family.
“Many people arrive in refuge with only the clothes on their backs, having fled their home in an emergency, so this funding will be a huge help for them on their journey to starting a new life free from abuse.”
PGM Dave Wheeler said: “Domestic abuse is a particularly insidious crime. It can be happening under our noses, but is not always immediately obvious. Escaping it requires a great deal of bravery, and we felt it only right that we should do what little we could to support those who have found the courage necessary to escape and build new, abuse-free lives.”
The donation came from the Covid-19 fund set up by the Freemasons charity the MCF, and was part of a total of £30,000 shared between six East Midlands Provinces specifically to support refuges helping victims of domestic abuse to turn their lives around.
What is EDAN?
EDAN Lincs operates 21 refuge spaces throughout the county, and has 50 people working within the charity to support women, men, and children experiencing domestic abuse – which is reckoned to affect one in four women and one in six men at some point in their lives. Some specialist staff are based permanently in hospitals, where they can intervene quickly should the need arise.
What should I do if I suspect domestic abuse?
- Be a listening ear. Never turn your back on the individual you feel may be subject to abuse, because isolation is often a tool of the abuser. Keep ringing for a chat, or inviting them to visit – even if they always turn you down.
- Get help in silence. Show potential victims how to ask for help in an emergency – without speaking. If they are unable to talk on the phone, tell them to dial 999 and then 55 when prompted by the operator. The operator will understand, and can get help.
- Discover how EDAN Lincs can help. Look on the internet at edanlincs.org.uk The web site has an ‘escape’ button, so the browser window will skip back to the Google home page in an instant.
- Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline at any time. Help is available 24 hours a day. Call 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk Advice is confidential, non-judgemental, and you’ll be talking to an experienced professional.
