The Links Group team will be busy during international No More Week, an annual opportunity to come together and raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Starting on 2nd March, No More Week 2025 ends on International Women’s Day, the 8th March.
This year’s focus is ‘No More Silence’ and our colleagues at Hestia hope to inspire individuals, organisations and communities to say ‘NO MORE’ to domestic abuse and help make a change. Animals are often silent, voiceless victims of domestic abuse, and so “No More Silence” is a particularly apt message, as we at The Links Group work to raise awareness of ‘the link’, to protect animals and protect people.
Want to know what you can do to help as an individual or as an organisation? Plenty, and Hestia have the tools ready to help you.
Hestia, a charity that supports adults and children in times of crisis, is one of the largest providers of domestic abuse refuges in London and the Southeast. Their Everyone’s Business programme supports employers across the UK to respond to domestic abuse and sexual violence through training, policy development and support packages for employees.
Hestia is the home of the domestic abuse and sexual violence campaign UK Says No More, and developed the Bright Sky domestic abuse app in partnership with Vodafone.
Hestia and UK Says No More’s physical Safe Spaces scheme provides somewhere for anyone experiencing domestic abuse to safely call a helpline, support service or loved one. Their Online Safe Spaces initiative was created and launched in 2020. It provides a portal of information, resources, and discreet pathways to specialist support on company websites for people experiencing domestic abuse.
This unique widget opens as an untraceable pop-up window, leaving no internet history and providing quick exit options for the person seeking help. 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 work.
Many businesses have adopted Online Safe Spaces, which has been accessed over 1.5 million times. We are delighted to say that since May 2024, The Links Group, BSAVA, BVRA, VetNI, NIVA, AVSPNI, Young Vet Network NI, Vet Support, BVA, VMG, BVNA, NAVP and Vetlife have added the Hestia’s Online Safe Spaces widget to their respective websites, as part of their commitments to supporting members, colleagues, employers, employees and wider members of the veterinary community.
Through their Online Safe Spaces scheme, Hestia is supporting the veterinary and allied professions support their colleagues, members, employees, and clients. So, what can we all do to help in return?
Hestia says, “Each year, NO MORE Week brings together people from every corner of society and the world to say “NO MORE” to domestic abuse and sexual violence. It’s a time to shine a spotlight on an epidemic that impacts 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men globally. But it’s more than just about increasing awareness; it’s about collective action. When individuals, organizations, and communities get involved in the movement to stop and prevent abuse, we are louder, stronger, and more impactful. Here is a link to our No More Week Partner Toolkit which can be downloaded (attached also). Please do let us know if you are able to get involved and what you are planning to do. We look forward to reading your emails, posts, and pictures.”
Tag us in your actions – we’d love to know how you’re supporting No More Week 2025.
