A CELEBRATED initiative to identify domestic abuse victims could be expanded a year after its high-profile unveiling.
One year ago in Letterkenny, the HSE, gardai, and women’s support groups coordinated for the safety project which was to oversee a new training initiative in the county so salon professionals could help abuse and addiction sufferers.
They were skilled in directing people in need to support services and the Donegal News has been told that the groundbreaking initiative could get a fresh revamp and an expansion.
The HSE said at the initial launch that “hairdressers and beauty salons are like a confessional box; they’ve built up trust with their customers” and a spokesperson this week revealed more initiatives could be looked at.
The spokesperson said last night: “After we launched the initiative some people changed roles but we could definitely look at it again. We are in contact with the gardai about different initiatives.
“We had a once-off event a year ago with 50 hairdressers. Women are given cards that link directly to the website of Donegal Domestic Violence Services.
“They can then get help. It was a very successful initiative. If people are interested in it, we would certainly look at it again. We can expand this to other groups like shops too. The more we work together, the better it is.”
Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) chairman Cllr Gerry McMonagle.
Donegal County Cllr Gerry McMonagle, who is the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) chairman, said yesterday that the initiative “offered the hand of friendship”.
He added: “It was a benefit locally to have the involvement of that industry where people are known to open up.
“This was a chance for people to be helped with the hand of friendship.”
Cllr McMonagle continued: “Maybe it is something that can be looked at again. I will definitely talk with local agencies about this.”
As well as the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána, and Donegal Domestic Violence Services (DDVS), there were also vital contributions to launch the initiative from agencies such as the North West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force.
Barbers, beauty specialists, hairdressers, nail technicians, and salon owners were all on board to flag warning signs of domestic violence, coercive control, substance misuse and responding safely and supportively to disclosures.
The project was named the Empowering Salon Professionals to Recognise and Respond to Domestic Violence, Coercive Control, and Addiction initiative.
When it was piloted in May last year, one woman revealed how her abuse was noticed by a hairdresser.
She said: “My daughter got chewing gum in my hair. I later went into the salon and when the hairdresser moved my hair, she noticed a bruise on the back of my neck.
“She didn’t ask me anything. She said I didn’t have to put up with this and handed me a card. I’m so glad I made the call.”
She added: “I wish I’d made it sooner. It can be scary but have the courage to make that initial phone call. People and supports are there for you.”
At the launch, Garda Siobhán Mollohan, who has since been promoted to Donegal superintendent rank in Letterkenny, said that the aim of “bringing in salon professionals” was to provide a “society approach to domestic abuse and support”.
Meanwhile, Donegal women’s support group The Uplift Project’s clinical director Jessica Gallagher is also continuing to offer support to vulnerable women.
She told Donegal News this week: “Uplift plans initiatives such as that one to increase awareness and community engagement around domestic violence.”
Earlier this year, Garda figures were released to show that women in the county made 1,400 domestic abuse calls last year, while there were 152 incidents relating to breaches of barring, safety, and protection orders.
One charity boss told this newspaper that the “harrowing figures” were just “the tip of the iceberg” and revealed there has been a “239% demand in increase” for help this year in Donegal.
A women’s support service told his newspaper that domestic violence in Donegal is “off the scale” with controlling abusers even continuing to target their victims from prison.
Uplift’s Gallagher said: “There is a lack of support for abuse victims. We know of women who are on the brink of suicide due to abuse.”
Registered charity DDVS is funded by the Department of Justice to help women and children affected by domestic abuse in county Donegal.
Its interim assistant manager Fiona Jordan said: “We want females to be able to identify and recognise red flags.”
Victims can call their local Garda station to speak in private and can call 999 or 112 in an emergency.
Donegal Uplift Project can be contacted via its theupliftproject.ie website and DDVS can be reached through its donegaldomesticviolenceservices.ie site.