Yesterday, I held a constructive meeting with the Solicitor General and NDAS Chief Executive, Sharon Brown, to discuss support for survivors of domestic abuse in Northumberland.
The meeting followed a Parliamentary debate held in November on violence against women and girls (VAWG), during which I raised a question highlighting both the work of NDAS and the unique challenges faced by survivors in rural communities.
During the discussion, Sharon Brown outlined the organisation’s vital work across the county, emphasising the distinct differences for those experiencing domestic abuse in rural and urban settings. The CEO highlighted barriers often faced by survivors in remote areas, including limited transport links, lack of nearby specialist services and increased isolation.
This government’s upcoming VAWG Strategy was also discussed, with NDAS expressing a keen interest in engaging with the government on how the strategy can best meet the needs of all communities, including those in rural Northumberland.
I was incredibly pleased to bring together the Solicitor General and Sharon, from Northumberland Domestic Abuse Services, today to ensure the voices of survivors in Northumberland are heard at the highest levels. NDAS provides exceptional support in challenging circumstances and it is essential that national policy reflects the realities facing rural communities. I remain committed to working with both government and local organisations to improve support for all survivors of domestic abuse.
Sharon Brown, Chief Executive Officer of NDAS, said:
“I am grateful to Joe for advocating on behalf of survivors/victims of domestic abuse in Parliament and to the Secretary General for taking the time to discuss the realities for survivors in rural communities.
“We welcome Government focus on domestic abuse as we come to the end of this year’s ‘16 Days of Activism’, an international movement to raise the profile of domestic abuse, and look forward to the release of the VAWG Strategy to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to ‘halve violence against women and girls’.”
To read my full question during the VAWG debate, please visit https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-11-13/debates/415DE210-358F-4626-888E-10D01003A9AB/details#contribution-3EA43CF7-E816-4BCB-A631-CAD11F18C658