We recently recorded a podcast Rosalyn Porter, Director of Women and Girls Cricket at Oxford Cricket Club, and her daughters Genevieve and Eloise.
You can listen to the podcast here.
They talk about their experience of living with years of domestic abuse. They discuss the positive role Cricket has played in all their lives. Yet they also describe how hard it was to recognise the situation they were in, and some of the barriers that prevented them accessing help.
This is a story of strength, resilience and love in the face of sustained coercive control and physical danger. It is a story that addresses difficult themes and some of the day-to-day realities of living with coercive control.
However, it is also a story of how some individuals were able to reach into their situation, to listen and provide much needed support. It is a story that is focused on this family’s desire to educate and change things for others in the future.
Safeguarding is Everyone’s Responsibility
The key lesson from this podcast is this: People working or taking part in sport can deepen their understanding of coercive control and take positive steps to support those who are experiencing domestic abuse.
In 2020, an estimated 1.6 Million (7.3%) women and 0.76 Million (3.5%) men in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse.
This is an important podcast for anyone who would like to better understand domestic abuse. It explores ways that sport might offer the right type of support to anyone in that situation.
If you are interested in developing tools to help sport and activity organisations support those at risk of domestic abuse please contact ruth.ingram@nottingham.ac.uk
If you need more information or help and support to address a domestic abuse or coercive control situation:
National Domestic Abuse Help Line
0808 2000 247
BSL
Website (with text/chatline)
Live Fear Free Helpline (English/Cymraig)
0808 80 10 800
Website
Safer Lives