A campaigner from Watchet in West Somerset is hoping two thousand people will join a lobby of Parliament next Wednesday (April 13th) to call for action against domestic abuse. Keely Lyttle says she has had strong backing from Labour MPs.
Keely is the founder of the national pressure group “Make a Difference and Stop the Violence.” She says help for victims of abuse has been hit by spending cuts and new measures are needed to give abuse victims better protection.
Many of those who’ll be taking part in the lobby are women and men who have suffered domestic violence. Keely said: “I think it will be an emotional day, with all us survivors standing together. We want to give victims a safe platform to be heard.” Three other campaigning groups from around the country will be taking part in the lobby.
Kelly says domestic violence services have been badly hit by cuts in the money councils get from the government and all refuges for victims of abuse could have to close by 2018.
Make a Difference and Stop the Violence has a six-point programme:
- More funding for councils and charities
- Resources to train survivors to help others
- Education about abuse as part of the school curriculum
- Better access to legal aid
- More safety around access to children
- More understanding of victims in court and tougher sentences for abusers.
In preparation for the lobby, Keely contacted all Members of Parliament and says she had a “massive” positive response from Labour MPs, including the shadow home secretary Andy Burnham.
She said: “David Cameron, George Osborne and Teresa May should hang their heads in shame. Cuts are removing every lifeline for victims. Services are shrinking but the problem is growing and we now face an epidemic that the Tories take no responsibility for.”
Keely can be contacted at: keely.lyttle81@yahoo.co.uk