Consultation and Engagement Hub

We asked the residents of Reading to comment on the priorities we developed for our new Domestic Abuse and Safe Accommodation Strategy.

Most of the respondents felt the proposed strategic priorities were right (36 of the 46 responses - 78%)

There were clear themes identified in the feedback across the consultation. When asked about ‘comments regarding the priorities’ if the priorities ‘highlight victim-survivor needs and ‘what is missing in reducing the prevalence of domestic abuse’, many respondents had similar comments, which have been themed and explained below:

Housing

• There is a lack of freedom with housing choices, with many victim-survivors often told to rehouse themselves, rather than being able to remain safe in their own homes.
• There is a need for more flexible housing solutions to accommodate victim-survivors (with different needs) and their children

Education and training

• Better training materials need to be made available in schools to prevent cycles of abuse at an earlier age.
• There needs to be more specific and targeted trainings provided, e.g., training for professionals on court guidance and community domestic abuse awareness raising sessions
• Training should be provided to professionals around perpetrators

Support services

• To increase support workers as there are often long waits for support programs
• Increase community-based support and interventions
• An attention to perpetrator programs to hold perpetrators of abuse accountable

Community engagement and domestic abuse awareness

• More widespread campaigns in all communities to increase domestic abuse awareness across Reading
• Making domestic abuse more visible within the community

Accessibility

• Support for those with no recourse to public funds needs to be accessible
• Support and services for male victim-survivors needs to be accessible
• Support and services for the LGBTQIA+ needs to be more accessible
• Support and services for those who identify as disabled needs to be more accessible

We shared these findings with the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board, which is a collaborative, multi-agency partnership working together to reduce the prevalence and effects of domestic abuse within Reading. The partnership is made up of: Reading Borough Council, Thames Valley Police, Adult Social Care, Brighter Futures for Children, Drug and Alcohol Services, Berkshire West Integrated Care Systems, Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and organisations within the Voluntary sector who specialise in domestic abuse and domestic abuse within the LGBTQIA+ communities. 

The findings and comments provided by the respondents were themed, shared and discussed with the Board. As the majority of respondents had agreed with the proposed strategic priorities, it was agreed by the Board to keep the priorities the same without any changes. However, the comments and issues discussed within the consultation have been highlighted in the wider Reading’s Domestic Abuse and Safe Accommodation Strategy 2023-2026, which has now been published, you can find our strategy here: Domestic Abuse and Safe Accommodation Strategy 2023-2026

We asked the residents of Reading to identify their concerns across Reading

The top 5 issues identified by the survey across the Borough were:

1. Drugs (1^st in 2019 & 3^rd in 2017)

2. Parking Issues (2^nd in 2019 & 1^st 2017)

3. Motorbike and vehicle nuisance (Potholes were 3^rd in 2019)

4. Flytipping

5. Burglary (4^th in 2019) Speeding was 5^th in 2019 & 2017

We have shared these results with the local Safer Neighbourhood Forums and the Community Safety Partnership

The Safer Neighbourhood Forums are now working on the priorities that were identified for their local areas.

What changes can be made to the draft SPD to improve clarity, provide helpful guidance for shopowners and improve the design of shopfronts and high streets throughout the Borough?

There was widespread support for the SPD’s aim and contents. 15 written representations were made and resulted in improvements to the text. A summary of each representation and the resulting changes to the document is available here.

The amended document was formally adopted on 17^th January 2022 and is available here.