Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visits Haddenham to support victims of domestic abuse

Thames Valley Partnership welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall to the Partnership offices to show her their extensive work in supporting victims of domestic abuse.

Also in attendance were Mr Alexander Boswell, Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and guest partner agencies working in the area of domestic abuse prevention and support. The Duchess spent time talking to those who manage the charity’s frontline services, and was keen to learn more about these services and was particularly interested in the digital advancements around the TecSOS and Bright Sky interventions.

Its technology which has been changing the lives of victims of domestic abuse for over 10 years.  

TecSOS, originally launched as a pilot project in September 2011 and is now active in almost all of the police forces across the UK as well as in several countries overseas. The technical device provides high risk victims of domestic abuse with a lifesaving immediate response in times of crisis and emergency.

Over the last 10 years it has been made available to 22,716 victims in the UK alone with almost every activation (6571 to date) being a life saved - and which otherwise may have tragically ended quite differently.

In addition, collaborating with a number of other organisations, the Partnership’s technological Safeguarding Solutions team also supports the development and roll out of the Bright Sky App which provides a host of advice and support to victims of various types of abuse and is beneficial to all levels of risk. 

CEO of Thames Valley Partnership Nikki Ross said: 

“We are committed to doing everything we can to help protect and support those living with the threat of domestic abuse.   The imposed isolations of the last two years have sadly only served to escalate the danger many face day in and day out.  Having Her Royal Highness visit us, to help shine a light on this issue and acknowledge our efforts, as well as those of partner agencies working in this challenging area, is very humbling and much appreciated”.

You can download the UK Bright Sky app in Google play and Apple Store for free, or view a basic version via your internet browser;   www.bright-sky.org.uk. 

For wider information on Thames Valley Partnership, including how you can access support from one of its programmes and how you can make a regular or single donation to the charity, you can email bron@thamesvalleypartnership.org.uk. or visit the website www.thamesvalleypartnership.org.uk.