BBC Radio 4’s domestic abuse storyline in The Archers seems to have captivated a large portion of the nation and has been a huge talking point for months. Last Sunday’s episode saw Helen Titchener fight back against her husband Rob who had been torturing Helen with relentlessly controlling behaviour, psychological bullying, violence and rape over the last two years.

Many have been following this intriguing saga which has been praised by domestic abuse charities for accurately portraying and communicating the many various aspects of this issue and which has also led to the setting up, by Archers fans, of a fund for victims, already close to £100,000. The subject of domestic abuse has also recently been covered by the BBC TV programme, Behind Closed Doors.

Next week, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) will launch its own new initiative to provide more support to local charities who work to help and protect the victims of domestic abuse.  At the launch there will be presentations from Cambridgeshire County Council and charities such as Women’s Aid and Ormiston Children Families Trust.

The outcome of the meeting will be to develop a fund which will make grants consistent with the work already being carried out by the key agencies across the County, who have a role in preventing, and providing services and support to survivors of, domestic abuse and sexual violence.