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13
Sept 2023
North Yorkshire’s poor broadband making it harder to support domestic abuse victims
Poor broadband and mobile coverage in parts of North Yorkshire is making it more difficult to tackle domestic abuse, according to a charity.
IDAS has offices in Harrogate and Skipton and is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Olivia King and Kerry Rose from IDAS gave a presentation to councillors at a meeting of Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee last Thursday where they gave details about the services it provides, including safe accommodation, one-to-one support for survivors and a confidential helpline.
The charity received 25,000 calls to their helpline last year which is a figure they said is increasing every year.
But reaching people is made more difficult due to poor broadband or mobile phone connections in the Dales and other rural parts of North Yorkshire.
Ms Rose said:
Ms King said the issue of poor broadband is one that older clients struggle with in particular.
She said:
North Yorkshire Council is aiming to complete the fourth phase of its Superfast Broadband programme by March next year, with 200,000 premises, many of which in rural areas, benefitting from vastly improved internet connections since the project was launched in 2012.
The IDAS helpline is 0300 0110 110.
Read more:
- County council pledges to fund extra help for rising tide of domestic abuse victims
- Ripon mum pens book about domestic abuse
- Government urged to help rural areas near Masham get broadband
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