Northern Irish veterinary associations are leading the way as part of a ground-breaking partnership with The Links Group and Hestia to provide an online safe space for members of the veterinary professions who are experiencing domestic abuse, enabling quick access to information and support available.
The Online Safe Spaces initiative was created and launched in 2020 by Hestia, a charity that supports adults and children in times of crisis, to provide a portal of information, resources, and discreet pathways to specialist support on company websites for people experiencing domestic abuse. Many businesses have adopted Online Safe Spaces, which has been accessed over 1.5 million times.
This safe online access to advice and help is critical. Victims of domestic abuse may have their physical and online movements tracked by their abuser. However, they may be ‘allowed’ to visit certain websites, for example, to pay bills or book appointments, or those associated with their job. VetNI, NIVA, AVSPNI, Young Vet Network NI and Vet Support have added the Hestia’s Online Safe Spaces widget to their respective websites, as part of their commitments to supporting the veterinary family.
This unique widget, located at the bottom of the homepages, opens as an untraceable pop-up window, leaving no internet history and providing quick exit options for the person seeking help.
Vicki Betton, Links Group Vice-Chair said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the latest support for this initiative from VetNI, NIVA, AVSPNI, Young Vet Network NI and Vet Support, which follows backing earlier this year from BSAVA (including BSAVA NI region), BVRA and BVA (including BVA NI Branch) ensuring full support across NI from all corners of the profession. While our training and resources help veterinary teams recognise and act on concerns about non-accidental injury and the abuse of animals or people, we know that domestic abuse also impacts colleagues right across the veterinary professions. It’s essential that effective signposting to sources of support is available from trusted veterinary websites, and this initiative with Hestia being adopted by veterinary associations across Northern Ireland is an extremely important step forward.”
Sue Harper, Deputy Director of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Prevention at Hestia, said: “One in five of us will experience domestic abuse in our lifetime. That means that all of us will know someone or work with someone who is directly affected – it’s everyone’s business. At Hestia, we believe that organisations have a unique role to play in ensuring that victims of domestic abuse can access the help and support they need.
“We are delighted to work with VetNI, NIVA, AVSPNI, Young Vet Network NI and Vet Support through The Links Group to host an Online Safe Space to provide a vital lifeline to victims of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland, and we hope more organisations will follow suit.”
VetNI, NIVA, AVSPNI, Young Vet Network NI and Vet Support stated, “We are very glad to host the Safe Spaces logo. We hope that its presence on our websites will stimulate curiosity from those unaware of its significance and will help to spread awareness of domestic abuse and how pets can be used in situations of coercive control. More importantly, it may provide colleagues safe and quick access to information and support when needed.”
The Links Group provides CPD across the UK on how to recognise and act on non-accidental injury and domestic abuse. The next free webinar, Animal Abuse as a Strategy of Coercive Control, takes place on 12th December, 10-12.30 pm. Places are limited; for more information and to book your place, visit thelinksgroup.org.uk/training.
