Powerful tribute to domestic abuse victims boosts awareness and fundraising

Our partnership with IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services) to host a pioneering art installation highlighting domestic abuse against women is raising awareness and boosting fundraising.

The ‘In Her Shoes’ display – featuring 100 pair of shoes to symbolically represent the 100 plus women killed every year in the UK by their current or ex-partners – has been viewed by hundreds of people across Yorkshire.Launched at York Minster, the installation has toured Northallerton, Skipton and the Jones Myers Harrogate office at Windsor House where IDAS and our team raised money with a scrumptious selection of home-made cakes. The baking went down a treat with fellow businesses and almost £250 was collected from cake sales and donations.

There are plans to further extend the exhibition, created by visual artist Mim Robson, to more regional towns and cities. The centrepiece comprises a poem by poet Hannah Davies which has been inspired by the words of domestic abuse and sexual violence survivors.

Jones Myers founder Peter Jones says: “It’s extremely positive that this powerful tribute is attracting interest and generating questions from so many people who view the display. The devastating effects of domestic abuse on victims are something we witness at first hand as a specialist family law firm and we’re delighted the exhibition will be seen by even more people.”

Rose Merritt, IDAS business development manager, adds: “The installation is timely following a recent announcement that domestic abuse offences have increased in North Yorkshire across the last year. Many people viewing it say they did not realise the disturbing scale of the issue. A ‘big’ thank you to Hannah Davies, Mim Robson and our sponsors, Jones Myers, for their ongoing support of this moving tribute.”

IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire whose services include refuge accommodation, community-based support, peer mentoring, group work and access to a free, confidential out-of-hours helpline.

The charity has been at the forefront of developing new services such as being the first organisation in the UK to develop a free online Live Chat support for survivors. For more information on IDAS visit idas.org.uk.

For information about any aspect of family law, call Jones Myers at our Leeds office on 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office on 01423 276104, visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce.

Pictured are Jones Myers partner, Sarah Dickinson, founder Peter Jones, and Rose Merritt (kneeling) from IDAS.