As today marks the official launch of Women’s Aid 24-hour helpline (1800 341 900), shocking statistics show just how important the service is.
The national domestic service support organisation will now go from 12 hours a day to 24 hours a day, seven days a week after they received more than 40 calls a day from women living with the threat of violence.
Today we launch our 24hr Helpline "Women's Aid gets more than 40 calls a day to its helpline since it went 24/7 https://t.co/b64PgXCyDf
— Women's Aid Ireland (@Womens_Aid) September 5, 2016
While it officially launches today, the service has been running successfully since January, despite an unexpected 20% cut in Government funding in 2015.
In fact, over the past six months, the charity has received almost 2,000 calls during the night service alone.
And in the weeks following the horrific murder-suicide in Cavan, Women’s Aid said they’ve seen a major spike in calls from fearful women.
“In the first six months of going 24/7, we have answered 1,957 calls in our ‘out of hours’ night service. Think of all those voices, desperate for help in the middle of the night and the early morning," Margaret Martin, Director of Women’s Aid, said.
"Women who needed someone to answer the phone to them. Someone to listen, believe and support. We know there will be many more. Our resources were over-stretched before we suffered funding cuts. However, we are determined to keep going, to keep answering the phone day and night.”
Looking forward to joining @Womens_Aid for launch of helpline Mon...a vital service.
— Katherine Zappone (@KZapponeTD) September 4, 2016
However, with the additional hours comes additional costs and the organisation estimates the service will cost around €75,000; they are calling on the Government to help support the vital service.
"Providing a 24/7 National Domestic Violence Helpline not only meets a demand that we know is there but Ireland has an obligation to provide 24 hour specialist support to victims of domestic violence under the EU Victims Directive. To meet the demand and to meet its international obligations, Women’s Aid insists that adequate funding is forthcoming," explained Margaret.
For advice and support, contact Women's Aid here or call them on 1800 341 900.
