As part of the Domestic Abuse Awareness campaign I am running in collaboration with Hampshire Police, Stop Domestic Abuse charity and the Hampshire & IOW Police & Crime Commissioner, I visited The You Trust based in Basingstoke to meet up with the Paragon team. Paragon is a team of passionate people who actively work with and give guidance, advice and advocacy to all victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Paragon provides support to all victims: women, men, and children if they’ve been a victim of domestic violence, been stalked, experienced recent or historic sexual abuse, or to children who have witnessed abuse. Paragon can also help support perpetrators of abusive behaviour in relationships if they’re committed to changing.
I also visited the Paragon ‘Safe House’ with regional manager Jayne Hardy. Working with Sovereign Housing, Paragon use the ‘Safe House’ to provide help which single women need to rebuild their lives whilst remaining in familiar surroundings.
With the use of refuge accommodation as a last resort, Paragon can also support clients who wish to stay in their own homes, supporting victims with reporting incidences to the police, helping organise occupation orders to remove perpetrators from the family home and support with education too.
Paragon provides workshops for community members who want to become ‘Dragonfly Champions’. Dragonfly Champions are trained to support people affected by domestic abuse in their community. With over 3,500 Dragonfly Champions across the Hampshire, Dorset, and IOW areas the ‘Champions’ are a network of community trained members who can signpost a variety of specialist services to support victims of domestic abuse.
As part of my Safer Communities campaign, designed to raise awareness of the help available to victims, particularly of domestic abuse, I will be joining a workshop to become a Dragonfly Champion, along with members of my team too. Workshops can be delivered virtually and face to face at local businesses, organisations or community groups that wish to become part of the network of Dragonfly Champions. To enquire email: Dragonfly@TheYouTrust.org.uk