Voice To End Violence - Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence

Simpson Millar LLP are truly proud to support the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence (CAADV). The organisation is a charity that offers businesses the tools and support to help staff who may be enduring situations of domestic violence. CAADV aims to demonstrate to businesses both the human and economic impact of domestic violence to the workplace. Emma Pearmaine, Head of Family Law at Simpson Millar LLP acts as a trustee of the organisation as does Caroline Kelly, Marketing Director whilst Rachel Windle, Head of HR is an Ambassador.

Who are the CAADV and what do they do?

CAADV combats domestic violence in 5 ways:

• Raising awareness throughout the workplace
• Sponsoring programmes
• Advising and training businesses on how they can support employees who are victims
• Giving access to HR policies which can set up a proper infrastructure for supporting victims
• Sharing knowledge and experiences

The Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence is a nationally recognised membership charity working with employers to address the impact of domestic violence in the workplace. The vision of CAADV is to work with every employer to respond effectively to domestic violence. The collaborative work with employers throughout the country has not only saved lives and addressed the needs of employees who endure, perpetrate and witness violence, but has also successfully assisted the reduction in the calculated cost domestic violence has to the UK economy. The Alliance is the only UK business to business specialist charitable consultancy working with employers.

Domestic abuse is a major problem which can affect every aspect of an endurers life, whether they're at home, at work, with friends or family.

The Cost

The cost of domestic abuse is both human and economic.

• In 2011/12, 7.3% of women (1.2 million) and 5% of men (800,000) reported having experienced domestic abuse – the true number of victims probably exceeds this (statistics from Women's Aid)

• 14% of all violent crime is domestic abuse and approximately 21 men and 104 women die each year (statistics for men from The Guardian, women from Women's Aid)

• According to the CAADV, the cost of domestic violence to UK business can be calculated at £1.9 billion

• NHS research shows the cost to them is estimated at £1.4 billion

Everyone has an obligation to step up and support the colleagues who may be enduring domestic violence. The holiday period is an especially difficult time, with many charities and the police seeing a surge in the amount of calls they receive.

National Awareness

CAADV and Simpson Millar LLP are working together in light of White Ribbon Day on 25th November, and the 16 Days of Action to end violence against women. CAADV are committed to tackling domestic violence in all its forms, against men and women, and its impact on the family and businesses.

Simpson Millar LLP will be raising awareness through the launch of its internal campaign to staff offering confidential support and advice for any staff enduring a situation of domestic violence and as well as continuing to support CAADV with a number of campaigns. This is just part of its commitment to being a member of the Corporate Alliance, as well as its on-going commitment to the issue of eliminating domestic violence.

For more about this, look out for #16Days on Twitter by following @simpson_millar or look through our family law services at SimpsonMillar.co.uk.