Onus Workplace Awards
L R Back Row: Rev Jack Moore, Antrim Methodist Church; Elaine Magee, Antrim Borough Council; Naomi Carey and Janet Hutchinson of Hutchinson Care Homes; John Fenton of NHSCT; Front Row L-R Siobhan Mellon of Snip@ease Hairdressing; Pam Brown MLA; Colette Stewart, Onus Business Manager; Mary Harris, of Antrim Parish.
A NUMBER of Antrim businesses have been awardedthe Onus Workplace Charter Awards Ceremony including Antrim Methodist Church and Antrim Parish, Antrim Borough Council, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Hutchinson Care Homes, Extracare and Snip@ease Hairdressers.
For the third year running, Onus have hosted their Workplace Charter Awards Ceremony, to acknowledge those organisations who have adopted proactive measures, such as policy development and training, to support employees experiencing domestic abuse.
Colette Stewart, Onus Business Manager, explains why the initiative was developed in the first place: “For the majority of people, the place they feel most safe is their home. But for an estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men living with domestic abuse, home is the least safe place for them. Domestic abuse is a crime, and it impacts well beyond the home. We need to ensure that our response to victims of domestic abuse is widespread and easily accessed. That’s why we asked workplaces to support us in getting the message out that support is available for victims of domestic abuse.”
Three years on, 70 businesses, including PSNI, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Newtownabbey, Antrim and Ballymena Borough Councils, Northern Regional College, Churches, libraries, constituency offices, solicitors, shops, hairdressers and many others have a Workplace Charter, affirming their commitment for victims of domestic abuse to access support in the workplace.
In the past year alone, 39 new businesses have come forward to support the initiative, and Onus are working with many more. The Workplace Charter takes a participative approach, with employers supporting staff within the workplace and agencies such as Women’s Aid or PSNI carrying on support beyond.
Cllr Robert Hill, Chair of Newtownabbey PCSP welcomed attendees to the ceremony at Mossley Mill, and special guest speakers included Ch Insp Paula Hilman, on why PSNI have a Workplace Charter on Domestic Violence and Michele Burnett and Lucy Campfield of Triangle Housing Association on the benefits of having a Workplace Charter on Domestic Violence.
Chief Inspector Paula Hilman said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland take the issue of domestic abuse seriously, but unfortunately it is still under-reported. Victims often sustain prolonged episodes of abuse or violence before taking action against the perpetrator. We will continue to play an active partnership role in tackling this crime.
“The Gold Workplace Charter Award presented to the PSNI in May 2011 was extremely significant. We are pleased to be here today to re-affirm this award. We have been working with Women’s Aid and other external agencies, such as ONUS and Men’s Advisory Project over the past number of years to develop new initiatives and methods on how we deal with people who have been victims of domestic abuse. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has introduced a number of new policies and training including a workplace policy for our staff and on how officers should respond when dealing with domestic abuse incidents. The Safe Place initiative has now been extended across the Police Service.
“It is vital that people are aware they no longer have to endure abuse, it is important they know there is support for them and a means through the law to address the situation they are in.”
For further information on how to tackle this workplace issue, please visit www.onustraining.co.uk for further information on the wide range of services on offer, or contact 028 2563 2136.
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Weather for Antrim
Wednesday 19 June 2013
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