VOLUNTEERS and staff at Stop Domestic Abuse have been praised for their dedication to continue to deliver lifesaving support amid the pandemic.

At the charity's first annual general meeting on Friday, October 22, CEO Claire Lambon said the post pandemic return to the face-to-face event was "welcome."

She praised staff and volunteers for being committed to continuing to provide essential support to women, children, young people, and men during these unprecedented times.

Attendees included the mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Cynthia Garton and the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones.

Claire said: "We will continue to be an innovative and unique provider of all services to those affected by domestic abuse. Together with our volunteers and trustees, our staff make a real difference to the lives of those affected by domestic abuse.

"I am very proud of the Stop Domestic Abuse team and their achievements."

Attention was on the significant impact Covid-19 had on domestic abuse and how the service adapted to the challenges it faced when delivering support to those affected.

Further achievements included training 64 professionals to recognise the signs of domestic abuse.

Together with Hampshire police, the charity ran ‘Safe at Home’ training to provide professionals with an understanding of domestic abuse and teach them the skills to identify risk factors and make appropriate onward referral to support services.

Claire later paid tribute to the women who had lost their lives due to male violence over the last year in light of the government's review of the VAWAG (violence against women and girls) strategy.

To end the meeting, it was revealed that the charity's Buy-A-Brick campaign, which was launched in 2016 in response to fragile landscape of safe accommodation for victims of domestic abuse, has been successful.

The charity has exceeded the original target and has now raised £1.25million which was described as a "monumental milestone."