IDAS Champions Training- Online Event

Name: IDAS Champions Training- Online Event
Start: 2026-09-15T09:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-09-15T12:30:00+01:00
Location: Live online training session

September 15 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Free

Register

Join us for this free online training session to learn more about the role of an IDAS Champion. Booking is essential.

Often, people impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence lack the knowledge and confidence of where to go to get help and support.

IDAS Champions are volunteers who seek out opportunities to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the services we provide so that more people can get support if they need it. Champions choose how much time to give and which activities to undertake.

IDAS Champions help us by:

raising awareness of domestic abuse among colleagues, friends, and networks;
distributing IDAS posters and leaflets;
sharing our posts on social media;
attending events and giving talks.

IDAS Champions can have a huge impact upon public understanding of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Champions can help people to access our services by raising awareness and building public confidence in our work. There is also the potential to work with organisations and employers to develop policies and practices.

Anyone can become a Champion!

Champions may be professionals from health and social care, have roles within educational institutions, be employers, or can be individuals who simply want to make a difference and help people receive the support they need.

IDAS encourages survivors of domestic abuse, including the friends or family members of people who have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, to become Champions.

IDAS Champions have good communication skills, they are warm and approachable with a willingness to learn about the complexities of domestic abuse. Additionally, they are self-motivated and committed to keeping victims and survivors safe.

Each Champion has a unique set of skills, experience, networks, and local knowledge. We hope Champions will draw on this so that we can throw a lifeline to those people who are experiencing domestic abuse and let them know they are not alone.

This training session will cover:

IDAS services and the support available
Potential signs of domestic abuse
Responding to disclosures of domestic abuse
Self-care and support from IDAS
Opportunities for networking

We want you to get the best out of training and feel supported and secure. Please follow the following protocol for online sessions:

Please be punctual
Allow time for yourself to access the training in its entirety
Ensure you are in a private space
If you are inadvertently disturbed, please mute yourself and turn your camera off
Please use the chat to query or to send a direct message to the facilitator
Do not share training log in details with anyone else.
If you experience any difficulties accessing ZOOM please contact the host or the member of staff responsible for your invitation.

Date & Time:

September 15 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Cost:

Free

Organiser

Katy Fearon

Website:

Email:

Venue

Live online training session

Address:

Online

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Our training team brings together experienced specialists with years of frontline practice in responding to domestic abuse and sexual violence. Passionate about creating lasting change, they deliver expert training grounded in real-world insight and deep sector knowledge.

‘Hysterical’

Calling women ‘hysterical’ if they appear distressed, upset or disturbed often discounts their experiences. Other labels used can include, but are not limited to, “unstable” or “over-reacting”, “unable to keep their emotions in check”. These statements are routed in sexism.

Another thing to note is that the description of being hysterical is provided by the alleged abuser. Often abusers will try to manipulate professionals in a bid to sabotage the victims’ credibility and to minimise or detract from the abuse.

Language is extremely important in documentation as the documentation will provide a narrative of what is happening and will often determine what course of action will be needed next.

Documentation may be called for as evidence in both civil and criminal cases, including family court for protective orders or child contact arrangements.

‘Male appeared calm and assisted with enquiries’

We cannot assume that because one party displays anger and aggression or is less in control of their emotions that they are a primary perpetrator. It is a myth that perpetrators “lose control” or have anger management issues when they abuse their partners. Domestic violence is the most often, the opposite of losing control; perpetrators know what they are doing and use their abusive tactics of choice to maintain dominance in the relationship.

Verbal argument only

It is important to remember that many couples argue, but for an argument to escalate to the point that the neighbours fear for a person’s safety that they phone the police on the emergency number, this should warrant further in-depth investigation. Statements such as “verbal argument only” will minimise harm and fear caused by verbal abuse. In turn it will also minimise the victims experience of the incident. The danger of using language that may minimise an abusive incident is that it will send a message to victims that the act was not abusive and if the victim felt it was abusive then they are over-reacting. Over time, this can lead to an escalation of abuse if the warning signs are not spotted, or intervention is not offered at the earliest opportunity. Furthermore, the statement ‘Verbal Argument Only’ suggests that only physical violence is worthy of investigation. However, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as: Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of any of the following—

(a)physical or sexual abuse;
(b)violent or threatening behaviour;
(c)controlling or coercive behaviour;
(d)economic abuse (see subsection (4));
(e)psychological, emotional or other abuse;

The act makes it clear that verbal abuse is part of domestic abuse.