October 2024 marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Domestic abuse has far reaching consequences, affecting not only the survivors but also children who may witness or grow up in an environment where abuse is prevalent.    

The goal of this month is to raise awareness and educate the public about the various forms of domestic abuse and their impact.  In Walsall a poet called Sara Meredith (pictured, reading at the Mid Autumn Festival in the Birmingham Chinese Quarter) has been taking part in an an Arts Council England funded project called the 1in3 Project (It`s Our Right) and is launching her debut collection "I Am The Storm" to raise awareness about domestic violence.  

Project Manager Diyodi Devinda Menon said "We are called 1in3 because 1 in 3 women will experience gender based violence in their lifetime.  This equates to around 736 million who are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner."  

In the UK over 2 million women are estimated to be victims of male violence each year, an epidemic that the government and police chiefs have branded a "national emergency".  According to figures published by the National Police Chiefs` Council in July, at least one in 12 women in England and Wales  will be a victim of crimes including stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence each year.     However - this may be an underestimate because even the report states "We know much crime goes unreported and in policing we often only see the tip of the iceberg".  

Nicole Jacobs, appointed in 2019 as the first Domestic Abuse Commissioner, has said that domestic abuse incidents account for 1 in 3 violent crimes recorded by police and a fifth of annual murders while 30% of people on probation are current or previous perpetrators of domestic abuse.   One woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every 5 days in England and Wales according to the  charity Refuge.  The police receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds. 

Sara said:  

"October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and whilst I believe it should be forefront of every month, I am honoured to be a part of an incredible initiative being held by” Its our right” “1in3” say no to gender-based violence. I will be releasing my new poetry book “I Am The Storm” on November 3rd as part of the 1in3 celebration day. 

I came to poetry late in life but I am so glad I did, it’s literally become therapy in words for me. Through verse I have allowed myself to explore my fears and feelings. The words inside my poems are how I have overcome battles both physically and emotionally. How I finally understood my own worth and how others behaviour towards me was far from acceptable.

I’m so proud of my book but I am also feeling a little vulnerable, because you will be ultimately reading my heart. I share with you the grief and the pain of losing my 7 year old son and how close it took me to the edge.

You will also read poems which will explain the ending of almost three decades of marriage.

There are poems of grief, pain, and loss but there are also ones of celebration and hope. 

For many years I have been a strong advocate for disability awareness, Rett syndrome and so much more, yet this book, “I am the storm” is my advocacy for myself. Writing this book has taken me from darkness into light. My hope is that if one person resonates with the words inside this book that they know that they are not alone and that they reach out. 

The 1 in 3 project workshops were some of the hardest afternoons I have ever spend. I had to realise first what was before I could begin healing and find my next. Healing is out there for us all, so please if any of my words feel familiar on your soul please reach out, you are not alone. "

 Photo credit - Diyodi Devinda Menon