Pictured at the expansion of the Esker House Purple Hands campaign into Laois were: (L to R): Helen Oti (Community Development Worker, Laois Domestic Abuse Service); Roisin Quigley (Community Support Worker, LDAS); Sinead Butler (Community Support Co-ordinator, Esker House); Kelsey Tobin (Training & Community Engagement Officer, Esker House) and Niamh Boyd (Child & Youth Support Service Co-ordinator, Esker House).

Esker House Purple Hand campaign extends reach

Athlone-based movement to end domestic abuse extended to Laois

Published: Fri 1 Aug 2025, 5:29 PM

A campaign devised by Athlone women's refuge service, Esker House, to create zero tolerance communities across the Midlands has reached a significant milestone by expanding into Laois.

The Purple Hand Champion Campaign was developed by Esker House under The Esker Project last year, with funding from the Department of Justice’s Community Safety Innovation Fund.

Its aim is to empower businesses and organisations to become safe, informed spaces for individuals subjected to domestic abuse.

Since its launch, more than 350 Purple Hand Champions have been trained across more than 50 organisations, including fire services, Gardaí, sporting clubs, healthcare departments and family resource centres.

Now, this vital service has expanded to the Laois Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS), which marks a major milestone in the campaign’s mission to build zero tolerance communities across the Midlands.

“We are thrilled to welcome Laois Domestic Abuse Service into the Purple Hand network,” said Kelsey Tobin, Training and Community Engagement Officer at Esker House.

“This collaboration strengthens our regional response and brings us closer to a future where every town and village has safe spaces for victims to turn to.”

The expansion of the campaign to Laois is the second such move outside of Westmeath this year, following the establishment of the Purple Hand Champions campaign at Teach Tearmainn in Kildare, which partnered with Esker House to launch the training across Kildare.

The success of that rollout laid the groundwork for further regional collaboration.

The training equips participants to recognise signs of abuse, respond appropriately, and refer individuals to specialist services.

Upon completion, organisations receive a Purple Hand Champion symbol to display, signalling their commitment to being a safe and supportive space.

“The Purple Hand Champion Campaign is about more than training—it’s about culture change,” said Deirdre Berry, Head of Services at Esker House. “We are building a whole community response to domestic abuse, and the engagement we’ve seen from local organisations has been phenomenal.”

Marina Ryan, Deputy Service Director of Laois Domestic Abuse Service, described the Purple Hand as “a symbol of hope, safety and solidarity” and said the campaign is “a vital step” in ensuring that victims of domestic abuse can access support and information within their own communities.

Businesses, organisations, and community groups across the Midlands are encouraged to take part in the training and join the growing network of Purple Hand Champions.