SURREY is one of three areas selected by national domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid to run a ground-breaking pilot programme.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Surrey led the Surrey Against Domestic Abuse Partnership (SADA) in making the successful bid.

SADA also includes Women’s Aid, Surrey County Council, the county police force and its PCC will implement the ‘Change that Lasts’ scheme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Women and Girls Initiative,

It will be piloted in Surrey to help women experiencing domestic abuse receive support earlier, and help them to achieve long-term recovery and independence.

The three-part scheme comprises:

• Ask Me: A community-based campaign, in which small ‘Ask Me’ signs will be put up in business or leisure areas to signal women can get informal help there quickly from designated ‘Ask Me’ ambassadors there

• Trusted Professional: Specialist training for professionals likely to have contact with victims of domestic abuse and coercive control, such as a health visitor, to spot the signs of domestic abuse and violence, and offer ongoing support up to and beyond any legal action

• Specialist Services: Forming small highly-trained teams to build tailor-made support programmes for women and her children.

Police and crime commissioner David Munro said: “I am very pleased and proud Surrey has been chosen by Women’s Aid as one of three regions to pilot this collaborative and innovative project, which aims to improve radically the lives of families experiencing domestic abuse.

“My office led the Surrey Against Domestic Abuse Partnership in making the application to take on this pilot.

“The new ways of working, which will be tested and evaluated by the pilot areas, will help inform the national direction on protecting women and children from controlling or violent perpetrators.”