CWU AFFILIATION GENERAL CONFERENCE MOTION 13 – National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV)

CWU AFFILIATION GENERAL CONFERENCE MOTION 13 – National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV)

At this year’s CWU General Conference delegates endorsed Motion 13 in the name of the Eastern Regional Committee regarding affiliation to the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV). For ease of reference the motion reads as follows:

The CWU applauds the inspiring and lifesaving work of the National Centre for Domestic Violence.

Their mission is to help people identify the early signs of domestic abuse, make decisions for a better life and to make domestic abuse socially unacceptable.

Before the Centre was operational, the Police and victims faced two problems when using local firms of solicitors to obtain non-molestation orders. Generally, solicitors were only willing to accept clients that were either eligible for public funding or clients who could afford to pay privately, thus leaving all those people ‘not eligible’ with no access to funds, unprotected.

The other main issue was that solicitors were taking between two days and two weeks to get the client into court and obtain the order.

The NCDV were convinced that victims of domestic violence and abuse could be daunted by the vast amount of various legal agencies offering to assist. They saw the need for a one-stop-shop where the concerns of those in an abusive situation could be addressed in their language and on their terms. Furthermore this streamlined service, could and should be free and accessible to everybody.

 The National Centre for Domestic Violence is targeted at the rapid relief of domestic violence and abuse. The majority of cases referred to the NCDV will result in a speedy action to the civil courts. They also provide services providing alternative refuge accommodation, and legal protection for children caught up in abusive or failing relationships. 

The NVCDV is completely self-funding and the solicitors provide pro-bono case work for those suffering from domestic violence and abuse.

 The NEC is instructed to:

 To nationally affiliate to the National Centre for Domestic Violence in order to recognise and support the important work they do to support victim of domestic violence and abuse.

• To encourage all Regions and Branches of the CWU to affiliate to the National Centre for Domestic Violence in order to recognise and support the important work they do to help victims of domestic violence and abuse.
• To highlight with CWU Regions, Branches and our membership the important work the National Centre for Domestic Violence provides to assist victims of domestic violence and abuse signposting victims to the services that NCDV provide via there online website, the information and help they provide regarding domestic violence and abuse for both male and female victims
• The national affiliation and working to full Regional and Branch affiliation is to be completed by the end of 2022.

 The above list is not exhaustive, conference agrees that the work carried by the NCDV has a significant impact on the lives of those in an abusive relationship whether mentally or physically. The problem of domestic violence is personal and largely invisible the NCDV provides a free and fast service to those suffering from domestic violence and abuse regardless of their financial status, race, gender or sexual orientation.

We can confirm that in line with CWU National Rule 6.4.6 branches are now permitted to affiliate to this organisation and an affiliation form is attached for your use/information.

Regional Secretaries will be tasked to roll out the affiliation of branches in their respective Regions for NCDV sign up.

Any enquiries on the above LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary’s Office on djeffery@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely

Dave Ward
General Secretary 

22LTB375 – CWU AFFILIATION GENERAL CONFERENCE MOTION 13 – NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

CWU EASTERN REGION – NCDV Affiliation Form

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