Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day #MenYouAreNotAlone

Thursday 2 November 2023

Charity launches “Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day” again to signpost male victims of domestic abuse to the support services where they live (#MenYouAreNotAlone)

The ManKind Initiative, in partnership with supporting organisations from across the UK, has launched the second ever ‘Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day’ on Thursday 2 November 2023.

The campaign has the slogan: #MenYouAreNotAlone.

In 2022, over 100 organisations publicly supported the campaign and the charity is confident there will be more in 2023.

The aim is to encourage more men to contact their local police force and/or their local domestic abuse service, all of whom will help them to escape from domestic abuse. It also aims to encourage men’s friends, families and work colleagues to identify and support men they know who may be suffering abuse at the hands of a partner or other adult in their home.

One in every six to seven men¹ will become a victim of domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime with 700.000 being victims in 2021/22. However, only one in twenty victims accessing a local domestic abuse service is male².

Organisations supporting the day including TSB Bank, the range of local councils, police and crime commissioners (the Kent PCC, Matthew Scott, is available as a spokesperson), domestic  abuse charities and legal organisations.

The charity, which supports male victims of domestic abuse, has asked organisations providing support services for men experiencing domestic abuse to publicise the help they have available in their local community. By collectively doing this on the day, in addition to other promotional campaigns they run through the year, it is hoped that it will amplify the message across the UK that there is support for men.

The date is the first week after the autumn half term school holiday and after the clocks go back – which can be a time when men realise they need to do something about the domestic abuse they are suffering.

 Mark Brooks OBE, Chair of the ManKind Initiative, said: “The campaign aims to increase the numbers of male victims using their local domestic abuse service or contacting the police by making them more aware of the support available. We hope this will also raise more general awareness amongst society and friends and family who often have a vital role to play in helping them to escape.

“Tens of thousands of men are suffering in silence and simply do not know where or who to turn to for help and guidance. They often do not even recognise what they are going through is domestic abuse until it is described to them. This is why it is important for local organisations and the police to publicise the support they have and be very clear that they will take them seriously.

“If we keep pushing the message that there is support, you are not weak, you are not to blame and you are not alone, then more men will come forward and receive the support they need. This will also include their children who are now covered by the new domestic abuse laws. This is why the message #MenYouAreNotAlone is so important.”

Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day 2023 is a collective and coordinated campaign by similar organisations across the UK. The campaign, which has the slogan #MenYouAreNotAlone, has been created and organised by the ManKind Initiative charity.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. ONS Domestic abuse: findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales: year ending March 2022 ().

2. ONS: Domestic abuse victim services, England and Wales, year ending March 2022 () – Table 15a

3. A campaign toolkit is now live on the ManKind Initiative website. Please click here to visit the page where you can find a full range of campaign resources including social media graphics, logo, imagery and suggested posts, key messaging and hashtags.

4. For further information about the campaign please contact Mark Brooks OBE, Chair on 07834 452357 or email chairman@mankind.org.uk.

5. About the ManKind Initiative

The ManKind Initiative (www.mankind.org.uk) is the leading national charity that runs a helpline providing practical information and emotional support for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence. The helpline number is 01823 334244 (weekdays 10am to 4pm) and relies on public donations.  It also runs an accredited training course, a national conference and a national services directory.

Annex 1: Organisations Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day

1) Venter Solicitors

2) Wokingham Borough Council

3) Changing Pathways

4) Male Survivors Partnership

5) Dawn’s New Horizon

6) Kent Police and Crime Commissioner

7) SafeNet

8) Calan Domestic Violence Services

9) Midlands Living CIC

10) Saif Social and Health Care Homes Ltd

11) You Trust

12) Jonathan’s House Ministries

13) Green Door Families

14) Leeds Domestic Violence Service

15) Norfolk Community Law Service

16) NIDAS

17) Resolve

18) Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid

19) SOLDAS

20) Swindon Community Safety Partnership

21) More Positive Me

22) ARCH

23) We Are With You

24) Williscroft & Co Solicitors

25) Norfolk County Council

26) Shropshire Council

27) Sign Health

28) Paul Lavelle Foundation

29) Dads Matter

30) North Lincolnshire Council

31) The Haven Wolverhampton

32) Cranstoun

33) Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner

34) The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

35) Together for Children Sunderland

36) CarmDas