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Bridging The Gap
RiTA (Rural Initiatives Tackling Abuse) is the UK's first dedicated initiative working at the intersection of rural inequality and domestic abuse, stalking and male violence against women, girls and children* (VAWG/C*) (VAWDASV (Wales)).
Two worlds have long operated in parallel. Rural policy and practice fails to recognise that domestic abuse, stalking and VAWG/C happen in villages, farms and rural (market) towns and how where you live shapes your risk, your safety, your needs, your choices and your ability to get help. At the same time, national domestic abuse and VAWG/C policy and services have been shaped primarily around urban experiences, leaving rural victims and survivors without the recognition or responses they deserve.
RiTA bridges that gap.
We exist to connect the rural sector and the VAWG/C (/VAWDASV) sector - the organisations, policymakers, practitioners and communities who need each other but are rarely in the same room. We bring rural voices into national conversations, and we bring specialist knowledge of domestic abuse, stalking and MVAWG/C into rural policy and practice - because until both sectors see the full picture, close the gap, rural victims and survivors will continue to fall through it.
*RiTA chooses to include children explicitly here, respecting the voices of those mothers whose children - girls & boys, are also victims of male violence and live with the impact of trauma, or, indeed, have died** because of the abuse. Children are recognised now as victims in their own right and so RiTA believes that national language must reflect that to ensure that they are never left out of the picture.
(**Remembering Jack and Paul & honouring their mother, campaigner and law changer, Claire Throssell)
The Rural Coordinated Community Response
Effective responses to domestic abuse require collaboration.
No single organisation can address the issue alone.
RiTA supports the development of Rural Coordinated Community Responses, bringing together partners across sectors.
By strengthening connections across this ecosystem, RiTA helps communities work together to improve safety, prevention and support.
The RiTA Community
Bridging The Gap Together
RiTA is building a national community of organisations, practitioners and leaders who are committed to our mission to ensure responses to domestic abuse and violence against women, girls and children reflect the rural realities and to working together to influence policy, strengthening coordination and driving national and system-wide change. to rural responses to abuse.Members will include organisations working in domestic abuse and safeguarding, community safety and rural development systems, including housing and health, policing and justice, research and policy together with experts by experience whose voice will be central to our work.
Membership provides exciting opportunities to connect with others working across rural areas to share learning and practice, contribute to national conversations about rural safety and collaborate on new ideas and initiatives. Together we can ensure rural communities are seen, heard and because rural communities matter.
[Explore Membership - coming soon! Click on the button and email to be put on the Membership List]
Our Supporters
