Women from South Yorkshire and a Labour MP united to discuss and combat the risk of violence, addressing the importance of extra support from health services and accountability for perpetrators.

Jess Phillips, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, attended the town hall meeting virtually at which survivors also shared their experiences.

She highlighted that 80% of children who have experienced sexual violence are turned away as the supported needed is too complex and this effects the vast majority of adult survivors as well.

Miss Phillips said: “Our system doesn’t just disbelieve people.

“I’ve rarely met a sexual violence victim or a domestic abuse victim who didn’t say that the court process was worse than the abuse.”

Organisations such as Sheffield’s Women Aid work to fill the gap of support left by national services. Hollie Venn, CEO of SWA, described the work they have done to offer mental support, campaign for change and provide safe accommodation extending beyond the six months refuge limit set by most other services.

Survivor and campaigner, Charmian Owston, moved to Sheffield to receive the support from SWA, which was the only charity at the time that also housed pets.

She said: “I was not willing to leave my dogs. They were the only thing that had kept me alive and kept me going and giving me a purpose.

“I was willing to sleep in a park rather than leave my dogs.”

Ms Owston described how, as a recovering addict who suffered a difficult childhood, she was in a vulnerable position, which her perpetrator exploited, gaslighting and controlling her to believe that his treatment was acceptable.

At SWA she felt comfortable and supported, and learnt the severity of her abuse. She has now been diagnosed with complex PTSD and is proud to help advocate for other survivors.

She said: “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I’m one of the lucky ones, and I’m really passionate about this, and I’ll talk to any lady. I’ll go to any lengths to help anybody altruistically.

“That’s what feeds me.”