The time is now. We must all stand together to end violence against women and girls. Thank you for supporting 16 days of Activism 2021.

2021-12-15T09:05:24+00:00
The time is now. We must all stand together to end violence against women and girls. Thank you for supporting 16 days of Activism 2021.2021-12-15T09:05:24+00:00

Staff and service users met with PCC Mark Shelford to talk about the criminal justice response to survivors of violence against women and girls

2021-10-19T15:06:37+01:00

PCC Mark Shelford visits Safe Link to talk with staff and service users

Staff and service users met with PCC Mark Shelford to talk about the criminal justice response to survivors of violence against women and girls2021-10-19T15:06:37+01:00

After months of virtual collaboration, the ISVA team were delighted to meet with colleagues from Project Bluestone to discuss the next steps in improving to response to survivor of rape and sexual assault

2021-10-19T15:06:31+01:00
After months of virtual collaboration, the ISVA team were delighted to meet with colleagues from Project Bluestone to discuss the next steps in improving to response to survivor of rape and sexual assault2021-10-19T15:06:31+01:00

Fantastic to meet Bristol’s High Sheriff, Susan Davies, to talk about the positive impact partnership working can have on children and adults who have survived sexual and domestic abuse

2021-10-19T15:06:22+01:00
Fantastic to meet Bristol’s High Sheriff, Susan Davies, to talk about the positive impact partnership working can have on children and adults who have survived sexual and domestic abuse2021-10-19T15:06:22+01:00

Next Link are setting up a new 24 hour house in Bristol for women survivors of domestic abuse alongside other partners.

2021-08-13T16:33:08+01:00

Read the full story here.
(the link takes you away from our website)

Please note that Missing Link cannot be held responsible for the content of external sites.

 

Next Link are setting up a new 24 hour house in Bristol for women survivors of domestic abuse alongside other partners.2021-08-13T16:33:08+01:00

Hear a survivor of domestic abuse share her inspiring story on ITV news. She spoke of how she feels she has been “released from a death sentence” after getting help from one of the Next Link IDVAs.

2021-08-04T13:32:47+01:00

Watch the report here.
(the link takes you away from our website)

Please note that Missing Link cannot be held responsible for the content of external sites.

Hear a survivor of domestic abuse share her inspiring story on ITV news. She spoke of how she feels she has been “released from a death sentence” after getting help from one of the Next Link IDVAs.2021-08-04T13:32:47+01:00

We were successful in getting funding for 15 new IDVA’s and 8 new ISVA’s so we can continue to help and support all survivors who contact us

2021-07-01T11:01:28+01:00

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has been successful in securing a major investment to further support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

The OPCC Commissioning Team has received over £1million in funding from the Ministry of Justice for 23 Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) roles and eight Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) roles to support victims across the force area.

Working alongside local authorities, local partners and victim services commissioned by the OPCC, the ISVAs and IDVAs will provide practical and emotional support and advocacy for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

A number of these new IDVAs and ISVAs will be specialist roles to ensure everyone who is a victim of domestic abuse or violence receives the support they need. Such specialisms include working with Black and Minority Ethnic victims, elderly victims, children and young people, victims in rural communities, victims of economic abuse, victims with complex needs and/or learning disabilities, male victims, LGBT+ victims and victims with mental health issues and illnesses.

“I am proud that the OPCC Commissioning Team were so successful in receiving this Government funding and, as a result of their hard work, we are receiving one of our largest funding achievements for victim services.

“I am grateful to the Government and Ministry of Justice in recognising the need to provide and bolster such important services during this challenging time and I look forward to supporting the work of the new ISVAs and IDVAs.”

PCC Mark Shelford

Sarah O’Leary, CEO of Next Link Domestic Abuse and SAFE Link Sexual Violence support services said: “We are delighted and very grateful to receive this funding for 15 IDVAs to work across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and eight ISVAs across Avon and Somerset. The additional funding will enable us to respond to an increase in adult and child victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence and abuse from all communities who need help with their safety and support to recover.”

“We are delighted to receive this funding from the Ministry of Justice, which will help aid the vital work being done in South Gloucestershire to support survivors of domestic abuse.

“These new specialist roles include experience of working with a diverse range of people and will help ensure that everyone in our area who is a victim or survivor of domestic abuse or violence receives the support they need.”

Councillor Rachael Hunt, South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place

Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture at Bath & North East Somerset Council, added: “Many of our local support services have seen an increase in the number of survivors of sexual and domestic abuse seeking help as we emerge from Covid restrictions.  This targeted funding will ensure they get the support they need through the fantastic recovery and counselling services provided by Trauma Breakthrough, Southside and Voices.”

Victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence can access support whether they report to the police or not and no matter how long ago the incident took place. Further information about support available can be found at This Is Not An Excuse.

We were successful in getting funding for 15 new IDVA’s and 8 new ISVA’s so we can continue to help and support all survivors who contact us2021-07-01T11:01:28+01:00

Link House has been chosen as a model of best practice by the World Health Organisation.

2021-06-30T23:11:48+01:00

CEO Sarah O’Leary said, “We are delighted to have been chosen by the World Health Organisation, we are very proud of the project and what it achieves. The drive and initiative that set up Link House came from women with lived experience and it is their ideas and innovation that has made it so successful. Offering support that reflects the woman’s needs and wishes is at the centre of everything we do”.

Click here to read the BBC article to hear from one of the women who has stayed at Link House.

Click here to download the World Health Organisation publication

Link House has been chosen as a model of best practice by the World Health Organisation.2021-06-30T23:11:48+01:00

Link House was given a special commendation by AWP Annual Awards. A service users gave a powerful account of her care and recovery whilst staying at the house, and the positive impact it had made on her life

2021-06-18T13:22:45+01:00

 

“I can’t describe how positive my experience of Link House was. I had spent five months in and out of acute wards and the two weeks at Link House were two of the most empowering, compassionate and excellent examples of patient led care I’ve ever experienced. From the moment I arrived I felt listened to, I coproduced all the goals I set, and I chose the activities I engaged in and resources I used. I felt that I was a person and not a patient. Staying at Link house increased my confidence and empowered me to make positive decisions about my recovery. I felt cared for and I felt they really listened to my history and helped me move forward with my life. As an inpatient, I really lost my sense of identity, being sectioned was a chaotic and damaging experience for me. At Link house I was empowered to make my own decisions. The staff were really passionate about a trauma informed approach, they all had an amazing understanding of the impact of trauma. They used activities and resources that were tailored to my own skills, interests and beliefs. During the months I was in hospital I was not referred to any external support or told about resources in the community. Whilst staying for two weeks at link house I was assessed and referred for four or five different agencies. Because of this, since returning home I’ve been able to access specialist support in the community that I had never previously heard of. I now have a long-term sexual violence advocate, have been assessed to receive befriending support from a women’s charity, and I’m on the waiting list for talking therapies from a specialist charity.

Link House was such a positive, safe and encouraging environment. The staff were kind and consistent and held professional boundaries, they always told me what could be done and expectations around time scales. They helped me manage contacting other agencies, contacted my GP to arrange picking up a prescription, they liaised with my care coordinator and my housing officer, they helped me manage difficult family relationships. At times I asked them to follow up on things to find they had already done them. It was such a uniquely positive experience of care in crisis and so much more helpful than a lengthy admission. I have no doubt that their respectful and empowering approach broke the cycle of admission and stopped me having to go back to hospital again. They empowered me to move on with my recovery and my life. All of the staff treated me with a level of respect and compassion I’ve never before received during a crisis. I really feel like my short stay there had such a huge impact on my life and my recovery.”

Link House was given a special commendation by AWP Annual Awards. A service users gave a powerful account of her care and recovery whilst staying at the house, and the positive impact it had made on her life2021-06-18T13:22:45+01:00

Some quotes from a recent service user who nominated Link House for an AWP Award

2021-06-18T13:20:34+01:00

“I can’t describe how positive my experience of Link House was. I had spent five months in and out of acute wards and the two weeks at Link House were two of the most empowering, compassionate and excellent examples of patient led care I’ve ever experienced. From the moment I arrived I felt listened to, I coproduced all the goals I set, and I chose the activities I engaged in and resources I used. I felt that I was a person and not a patient. Staying at Link house increased my confidence and empowered me to make positive decisions about my recovery. I felt cared for and I felt they really listened to my history and helped me move forward with my life. As an inpatient, I really lost my sense of identity, being sectioned was a chaotic and damaging experience for me. At Link house I was empowered to make my own decisions. The staff were really passionate about a trauma informed approach, they all had an amazing understanding of the impact of trauma. They used activities and resources that were tailored to my own skills, interests and beliefs. During the months I was in hospital I was not referred to any external support or told about resources in the community. Whilst staying for two weeks at link house I was assessed and referred for four or five different agencies. Because of this, since returning home I’ve been able to access specialist support in the community that I had never previously heard of. I now have a long-term sexual violence advocate, have been assessed to receive befriending support from a women’s charity, and I’m on the waiting list for talking therapies from a specialist charity.

Link House was such a positive, safe and encouraging environment. The staff were kind and consistent and held professional boundaries, they always told me what could be done and expectations around time scales. They helped me manage contacting other agencies, contacted my GP to arrange picking up a prescription, they liaised with my care coordinator and my housing officer, they helped me manage difficult family relationships. At times I asked them to follow up on things to find they had already done them. It was such a uniquely positive experience of care in crisis and so much more helpful than a lengthy admission. I have no doubt that their respectful and empowering approach broke the cycle of admission and stopped me having to go back to hospital again. They empowered me to move on with my recovery and my life. All of the staff treated me with a level of respect and compassion I’ve never before received during a crisis. I really feel like my short stay there had such a huge impact on my life and my recovery.”

Some quotes from a recent service user who nominated Link House for an AWP Award2021-06-18T13:20:34+01:00
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