In 2018, an estimated 2.0 million adults age 16 to 59 were victim to domestic abuse. Over the year, 1.3 million were women, and 695,000 were men.

The cost of domestic abuse in England and Wales is estimated to be approximately £66 billion.

However, domestic abuse is sometimes left unnoticed or unreported due to a number of reasons, whether that be the stigma around the shame or embarrassment of admitting it, or the fear and distrust in people believing you due to the level of evidence needed.

We are always finding new ways to support victims of abuse by listening to them and showing them that they are not alone in the fight for justice.

It can sometimes be hard to prove the systematic nature of abuse: often by the time someone gathers the courage to report their abuser, they’re trying to remember details of events that are months or years old.

Now, an app has been created to help victims of abuse gather information and evidence of incidents, to help build a better case against their abuser.

Bright Sky is a free to download mobile app, launched in partnership with the Vodafone Foundation, providing support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.

• Available in 4 languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi and Polish.
• A unique UK-wide directory of specialist domestic abuse support services with contact details.
• A secure My Journal tool to record incidents of abuse via text, audio, video or photo form, without any of the content being saved on the device itself.
• Questionnaires to assess the safety of a relationship, plus a section on dispelling myths around domestic and sexual abuse.
• Links to further resources and information on topics around domestic abuse.

Two weeks ago, Labour MP, Rosie Duffield spoke out in Parliament, giving a brave account of the abuse that she personally suffered at the hands of her ex-partner during a speech reiterating the desperation for the new Domestic Abuse Bill to be made law.

Natalie Blake, Head of Domestic Abuse at Watson woodhouse Solicitors says ‘Domestic abuse destroys lives, and not just the life of the immediate victim, but of children and other family members as well. It can be difficult for domestic abuse victims to build a case, anything that helps people take back control of their lives can only be seen as a positive. Tools like this app coupled with Rosie’s moving speech, highlight this is a complex issue which affects every one of us.’

If you have been a victim of Domestic Abuse, you can take steps to protect yourself from further incidents. There is a way out and help and support is available. Call or text our dedicated domestic abuse line on 07787647957 for further advice.