Figures have hit an all-time high for women seeking refuge from domestic abuse
Every January the charity Affordable Justice has reported, on average, a 50% increase in women seeking support for issues relating to domestic abuse, divorce, and childcare arrangements.
Despite the beginning of a new year being associated with a complete clean slate, thousands of women across the UK are sadly not presented with such a privilege. Since the charity Affordable Justice was established in 2016, every January has experienced a drastic increase in the number of women seeking advice about legal issues relating to domestic abuse and divorce.
Spikes often arise during January as a result of the pressures of Christmas, however this year the woman-founded legal charity also attributes the increase to the continued cost-of-living crisis, as financial distress has frequently hit households all over the country.
‘January is always a busy month, but this year in particular, we are speaking with increasing numbers of women coming to us who have simply gone beyond the point of no return in terms of putting up with the controlling and threatening behaviour of their partners,’ Lisa Hilder, the founder of Affordable Justice said. ‘Already frustrated and agitated by financial pressures, with emotions exacerbated by alcohol, and then struggling through the additional expenses incurred at Christmas, many families would have spent the last few weeks living in a pressure cooker environment.’
Lisa added: ‘So, as we enter January, a time when the festive debt hits depleted bank accounts, it is no wonder any final threads start snapping.’
In addition to problems such as divorce and domestic abuse becoming more apparent during this time of year, disputes over childcare arrangements between couples who have already separated also tend to arise more.
No matter how ‘amicable’ arrangements might be, at least one of the parties often ends up spending Christmas day separated from their family, and this can evoke intense feelings of stress and upset.
‘We often deal with ex-partners who are trying to exert a degree of control over areas that they can’t really control, and making threats over existing child arrangements are almost an outlet for that sense of resentment,” continued Lisa. ‘Arrangements that might have been working suddenly become a point of contention, and this can be extremely unsettling for children who are already coping with volatile parental communication.’
Affordable Justice was set up specifically to help women who were not eligible for legal aid when restrictions were put in place during 2013. The normal cost of commercial solicitors can be prohibitive for many people, keeping them trapped in unhappy and abusive marriages.
Image: Artem Furman
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