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Rotary | FEATURE

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT

DOMESTIC ABUSE

It's a delicate topic, but the creation of a Domestic Abuse & Violence Team within Rotary is
sending out a message that it's time for clubs to provide supportive roles in their communities.

| STORY BY DAVE KING |

ICKY Alberry joined joined the club which has been supporting ago this year which provides a range of
Swindon Rotary Club in Swindon Women’s Aid for almost 50 years free and conf dential support services
1997 impressed by the now, which is remarkable. I take my hat supporting all victims of domestic abuse,
work the Wiltshire-based of to them.” and which today runs a purpose-built
club was doing around In 2016, in preparation for becoming refuge which can accommodate up to 22
Ndomestic abuse. High Sherif of Wiltshire in 2018-19, families.
“When I found out about that, I Nicky decided to focus on domestic abuse It was no surprise, therefore, that
thought it was a really brave thing for as an issue which, as she put it: “I could Nicky was appointed as the f rst Lead
a group of men to be doing for an issue hang my hat on”. of the newly created Domestic Abuse &
which, back then, was not talked about as Ever since then, Nicky has chaired Violence Against the Person Team, tasked
much as it is now,” ref ected Nicky. the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support with raising awareness of what is already
“That was one of the reasons why I Service, a charity established 50 years being done by Rotary across Great Britain

52 | Rotary | AUTUMN 2024 rotarygbi.org