How the Electrical Industries Charity helps tackle domestic abuse

According to the Women’s Aid organisation, in the UK, domestic abuse affects one in four women and one in six men in their lifetimes. This includes our colleagues in the electrotechnical and engineering services industry.

An abusive or unhealthy relationship often leads to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression which can result in poor physical health and reduced productivity at work as well as loss of employment. This is why it is critical to seek help when problems arise.

Mother of two Sophia, who has worked in the electrical industry for several years, suffered from an abusive relationship which led to the deterioration of her mental health. Sophia’s employer got in touch with the EIC in January 2018, after ill health forced her to take time off from work.

The Electrical Industries Charity (EIC) ensures that those who are going through a relationship breakdown are getting the support they need to overcome overwhelming situations by offering vital support services through its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). The support services that EIC offers those who are faced with life crisis include legal advice, telephone counselling and support, as well as financial assistance and grants which can give people within the electrical sector an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Through the EAP, the EIC was able to arrange relationship counselling for Sophia and her partner, although he refused to attend. Despite this, EIC focused on Sophia and her children’s wellbeing and arranged for a specialist occupational therapist to assist with Sophia’s return to work, as well as further therapy.

Since attending therapy sessions over the following months, Sophia realised that she was in a controlling and mentally coercive relationship and therefore decided to report her former partner’s behaviour to the police. EIC has assisted Sophia every step of the way during her relationship breakdown difficulties. Her ex-partner has moved out of their house and she is now back at her job full-time and is focusing on a brighter future ahead together with her two young children.

Domestic abuse is not always physical, but it can also be financial, emotional and psychological, and absolutely anyone can be subject to it. The controlling partner might cut-off resources like money and transportation, practically keeping the victim prisoner.

Readers who would like to show support and help the Charity to assist more people like Sophia can sign up to become a partner of EIC’s Employee Assistance Programme or by taking part in powerLottery today for as little as £1 per month. Simply download the EIC’s powerLottery app and tap the app to play.

Alternatively, if any readers require assistance or are aware of anyone else who does, they are kindly requested to contact the EIC support team: [email protected] or 0800 652 1618. Further information is available from Jess Vailima: [email protected]

www.electricalcharity.org

[edit] About this article

This article was written by Tessa Ogle, Managing Director of the Electrical Industries Charity, electricalcharity .org support@electricalcharity.org. It was first published on the website of the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) in May 2019 and can be accessed here.