Sport NI and Women’s Aid Federation NI have teamed up to provide domestic abuse awareness training to the sports sector and highlight the role sport can play in ending violence against women and girls.
Domestic abuse is a significant problem in Northern Ireland, with just under 30,000 incidents taking place from 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. These incidents include threatening, controlling, coercive behaviour, violence or abuse inflicted on anyone by a current or former intimate partner or family member.
The domestic abuse awareness training is being delivered to sports governing bodies as part of Sport NI’s women in sport campaign, Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong and will guide sports on how to support those affected by domestic abuse.
The training will provide indepth knowledge of the issues around domestic violence, its forms, how to spot signs and how to provide a welcoming environment.
It will provide the sporting sector with the knowledge and tools to deal with domestic abuse and respond to disclosures made by participants, to safeguard victims and others and how to share sensitive information safely.
Rebecca Hope, Interim Director of Sport, said: “We are partnering with Women’s Aid Federation NI as part of our commitment to make sport accessible to all women and girls.
“The Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong campaign is all about supporting women to find their place in sport and we want to ensure that women and girls in sport feel welcome and safe. We want to see more female players, coaches, officials and board members driving change within their sports.
“Sport has a key role to play in ending violence against women and girls. Clubs are at the heart of our local communities and this domestic abuse awareness training will equip sports governing bodies with the knowledge and resources to spot the signs and how to best support participants experiencing abuse.”
Sonya McMullan, Women’s Aid Regional Services Manager said: “We are delighted to partner with Sport NI to raise awareness of violence against women and girls with so many different sporting organisations. We hope to build on this partnership and ultimately create a safer society for all.
“Women’s Aid knows sport has an important role to play in ending violence against women and girls. It can empower women and girls, promote gender equality and create safer spaces. It can challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours through education, building confidence and resilience in our women and girls.”
Katie, NI Karate Board Development officer attended one of the training sessions. She commented: “I will be taking back everything I have heard to my sport to create a safe space for the many children and parents that attend our sessions.
“We want to protect them and provide a safe space for the parents to bring them to. We also want our sessions to be open so anyone can feel able to talk if they need to talk.”
To find out more about our Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong campaign please visit: www.beseenbeheardbelong.co.uk