Trafford Council has celebrated a year of success with Strive, a volunteer-based service for victims of domestic abuse.
The event, at Sale Waterside Arts Centre on Wednesday 7 of December, was held to thank the volunteers for their contributions. Using Home Office Innovation Funds and sponsored by the Police and Crime Commissioners Office, Trafford developed a new programme for people who report instances of domestic abuse to Greater Manchester Police for the first time. Where there is no criminal justice outcome and where the responding police officer assesses the risk as standard or low, STRIVE volunteers are used to conduct follow-up visits and give support to families who otherwise may not be getting the help they need.
Over fifty guests attended the event including, the Major of Trafford, Cllr Judith Lloyd, Councillor John Lamb, DCI Paul Barker and other representatives from GMP, Police Community Support Officers, Relate and Trafford Domestic Abuse Service. All the STRIVE volunteers were given a Christmas card and a voucher to thank them for all their hard work, before sitting down to afternoon tea with the Mayor.
Trafford, out of all the boroughs, has had the greatest success in launching STRIVE, with over twenty volunteers recruited by Relate and trained by Trafford Domestic Abuse Service since going live in May 2015. Relate, GMP and Trafford Council hope to make STRIVE even bigger and better in 2017.
For information on how to volunteer or to request an application form, please email sharondoyle@relategms.co.uk.
