Ask Me - Cambridge Women's Aid

We know that communities are often the first to know about abuse, and that they can act as gate openers or gate closers in terms of help seeking" (Finding the Costs of Freedom Report 2014) People within a survivor's community are often the first to know that domestic abuse is happening. But lack of understanding and confidence can make people afraid to talk about it, and unsure of how to respond when someone speaks out. Survivors have told us they can feel judged, silenced or isolated by the people around them. We are changing that through the Change That Lasts Ask Me scheme, developed in partnership between Women's Aid Federation England and Welsh Women's Aid. The project is a simple initiative that equips women and men in Cambridge with an understanding of domestic abuse and how to respond to survivors. This knowledge will enable the community to play an active role in ending domestic abuse.