The Safer Slough Partnership are giving out £1-sized locker and trolley tokens as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the help available for victims of domestic abuse.
On Wednesday 19 August, between 10am and 3pm, members of the Slough Domestic Abuse Forum will be at Montem Leisure Centre giving out the tokens which are made to the exact dimensions of a £1 coin and can be used in shopping trolleys and gym lockers.
The Slough tokens feature the message “Don’t live with domestic abuse” and a local domestic abuse women’s aid number.
Each month, Slough’s domestic abuse unit deal with more than 300 reports of domestic abuse – ranging from verbal arguments to more serious assaults and violent attacks. And nationally, according to the Home Office, two women are killed every week by a current or former partner.
Sophie Wing-King, domestic abuse co-ordinator for Berkshire East, said: “We know many people will experience domestic abuse but won’t report it to the police or local support agencies.
“We want to encourage anyone living in an abusive relationship to seek help, whether they are the victim or the perpetrator.
“These £1-sized tokens are another way of getting the message out that domestic abuse is unacceptable and there is help available.”
Councillor Chrissy Small, Slough commissioner for health and wellbeing, said: “Domestic abuse is often a hidden crime with hidden victims.
“We want to show people living in an abusive situation that there is somewhere to go, people who can help and these tokens are one way we are doing this.”
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, and wish to report it, call 999 in an emergency, or 0845 8 505 505 in a non emergency.
If you would like to speak to someone in confidence, call Berkshire East Women’s Aid on 01753 549865 (they will provide outreach and advocacy support to both men and women) or Kinara Asian Women’s Service on 01753 592988.
Men wishing to change their abusive behaviour can call the Changing Ways programme on 07818 054563 and abusive women can call the Respect Phoneline on 0845 122 8609.
Slough Borough Council
