CUMBRIA’s police, fire and crime commissioner, David Alen officially launched Cumbria Gateway’s new men’s centre, ‘Gateway 4 Men’ in Carlisle. 

The new men’s centre will provide critical help to vulnerable men in Carlisle and the surrounding areas, with tailored services around the needs of local men through 1-on-1 sessions and support groups.

The new initiative has been made possible through funding secured by the Office of the police, fire, and crime commissioner from the Ministry of Justice, for £19,796.

David Allen, Cumbria’s police, fire and crime commissioner said: “It was very clear at the ‘Gateway 4 Men’ centre official launch, that specialist services are needed to encourage men to come forward and give them confidence to access the support they need.

“Research has shown the impact of crime and domestic abuse can be experienced differently for men due, in part, to cultural and societal expectations.

“Harmful stereotyping, combined with popular myths and misconceptions around male victims, can act as additional barriers when it comes to reporting and seeking help."

The Office for National Statistics show every year that one in three victims of domestic abuse are male. Yet according to Safelives data only 4.4% men are being supporting by local domestic services.

For every three victims of partner abuse, two will be female and one will be male, and 59% of men experiencing partner abuse did not perceive what was happening to them as domestic abuse.

Men are three times less likely to tell anyone they are victims of domestic abuse (49% of men tell no one compared to 19% of women).

Detective inspector Mike Taylor, Cumbria Constabulary, said: “The men’s centre will hopefully lead to more men accessing the support they require.

“We are aware that some men may feel uncomfortable or be unwilling to report what has happened to them. My message to them is that any report they provide to police will be dealt with the upmost sensitivity and they will be taken seriously."