Helping get lives back on track

2:32pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

One incident of domestic violence is reported every minute in the UK. SCOTT MULLINS meets a mother who has dragged herself from the brink with the help of a dedicated volunteer.

TWO-AND-A-HALF years ago Kim was locked in an abusive relationship and living with the threat of violence on a daily basis.

‘John gave me the strength to start dealing with difficult situations for myself.’

KIM ON VOLUNTEER JOHN CLIFF

Only after her neighbour had called the police for the third time did she begin to take the first steps to a new life without the fear of violence.

Kim, who does not want to give her full name, said: "My ex partner was living with me when social services got involved and asked him to move out.

"I didn't really want him to go. I had all my kids and wondered who was going to help me look after them.

"But I didn't have a choice. If he didn't leave then I would have lost the kids.

"Looking back now, it was the right choice."

The mum-of-six from Bromley was suffering from depression when a social worker introduced her to 55-year-old John Cliff in February 2006.

Mr Cliff is part of the Volunteers in Child Protection project.

He gave up his time to help 35-year-old Kim get her life back on track.

Unemployed Kim said: "Just before John arrived, I had been through a very stressful time.

"My partner had been violent to me and there was a risk of this spreading to my children.

"I'd become depressed and was on tablets but John started to give me lots of practical help and gave me the strength to start dealing with difficult situations for myself."

Mr Cliff is married with three children of his own.

He said: "I used to visit and just kick a football around with Kim's children.

"I would paint or read with them, take them to the doctors or help clean up the house."

He added: "I helped Kim get her life back on track by doing whatever I could."

Bromley Council will now continue to fund the project after a pilot scheme in the borough proved a success.

The project, piloted by volunteering charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV), can cost up to £60,000 a year to set up and run.

Jean Pardy co-ordinates the project for CSV and says after eight-year-old Victoria Climbie died from neglect in 2000, something needed to change.

She said: "It was a case of how many more children needed to die.

"It is the worst-case scenario but it's about realising small things can avert a crisis."

"Social workers can't always give the time but the things the volunteers do can make a real difference."

'REAL MIX OF VOLUNTEERS'

VOLUNTEERS on the project can come from any walk of life.

They undergo stringent checks and interviews before social services match them to a family.

Co-ordinator Jean Pardy explained: "On average, a volunteer spends four hours a week with their family and each family is assigned one volunteer.

"Once the situation improves, the volunteer will still stay in touch.

"Some volunteers work full-time, some are still at college and some are retired."

She added: "We get a real mix, from 18-year-olds to those aged 60 or over. We are now looking to roll the scheme out across the country."

To find out more information, call Bromley Council on 020 8461 7340.