Salford Survivors Project, a charity that helps people struggling with domestic violence, helped over 2000 people in Salford in 2023.
Jane Broome, the CEO of the Survivors Project said: “We help anyone that’s been affected by domestic or family abuse, predominantly in Salford. Anyone from a victim, to a family or friend who is trying to support somebody.
“We work with them in crisis situations and sometimes 10 years later, when it is still emotionally affecting them.”
One in five people experience domestic abuse during their life time and a domestic abuse related call is made to the police every 30 seconds.
The ICGM (Independent Choices Greater Manchester) helpline offers help to anyone over the age of 16 and during the year 2020/21 this helpline received 89 calls from victims living in Salford, with 92 percent of these being female callers and 3 percent of calls being from men.
The latest recording made by the Greater Manchester Police was in 2019 and it shows that in Salford, there was 5375 domestic abuse offences reported.
The charity offers various different kinds of support. When someone gets in touch with the team, they first understand their needs, “If they need food or clothing we will get that to them. Or it could be something as simple as they just want someone to talk to,” said Jane.
They also run empowerment courses and Jane explained the benefits of these, saying: “The reason for these is because if people stay in the relationship it is generally because they don’t feel they are worthy enough to leave. They end up believing they are to blame. It’s about healing afterwards, getting them to understand that there is a future without abuse.”
Jane spoke about how it all began, saying: “Every one of us that work front line at the charity have all been victims of domestic abuse so we have a better understanding of what that person feels like.
“My daughter was in an abusive relationship. This went on for six years, he was tormenting her. But in 2012 one of her best friends was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. This changed my daughters view on everything. It lead her to finally leave her partner.
“We went everywhere to get help and there was nothing. Then another young mum a couple of miles away called Lindsey Ashton was murdered. I just thought enough is enough.”
In response to her daughters situation, her daughters friend and a local lady in their area, Jane felt the need to do something about it so she began to set up the charity. At first it just began with sign posting in her area and spreading the word, then people started contacting her asking for help. The Salford Survivors Project grew from there.
Jane continued: “Now we’ve won charity of the year and in 2019, I won an award. Last year I won Pride of Manchester. We’ve just got so many hands on volunteers here.”
The charity has now grown massively and has had such a positive effect on so many abuse victims in the area. Salford Survivors Project hold events, raise money through fundraisers and in the summer they opened a café called Da Vida Deli, in Swinton. Where all of the profits were given to the charity.
Jane explained their strategy, saying: “I’ll be honest with you, we just ask when we need it. At Christmas we continually ask people to sponsor families. We usually do a keep fit sponsorship that raises a couple of thousand pounds, but generally we’re a proper charity, we ask when we need.”
The project has received a mass amount of positive feedback from the people of Salford and now holds an outstanding reputation for being good at what they do.
Jane added: “We have had some really nice feedback. The vast majority of our volunteers now are previous clients. So that shows we’ve done something to empower them because they have chosen to give back.”
The Salford Survivors Project will continue to do their bit in the community for many more years to come.
Jane commented: “I wouldn’t change what I do for the world. I can tell you now that there has been days that I’ve woke up and thought that I just can’t do this anymore because it is a lot of stress and pressure, but at the end of the day what we do is so important, I just wouldn’t change it.”
They are located at the Beacon Centre in London Street, Salford and their helpline can be accessed seven days a week 10am-10pm on 0161 706 0468. More information can be found here.
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