Are you living in an abusive relationship?

It’s not just you.

Many people experience abuse within a relationship. It happens in all communities, in all neighbourhoods, on every street.

You do not have to put up with it. Our support workers and Independent Domestic Abuse Advisers can meet with you in a safe place in your community, over the phone or online and talk to you about your situation in confidence.

We can help you think through what your choices are to become safe.

  • If you need space and time to think we will support you while you decide what you want to do.
  • If you are at risk of harm from a partner, ex-partner or family member
  • If you want to remain at home safely and remove your abusive partner
  • If you want to stay at home but are not yet ready to leave your abusive partner or family member
  • If you feel unsafe at home and need to go into a safe house
  • If you are not sure what you want to do and want to talk to someone about your situation

We are here to help you

What can we offer?

  • Someone to talk things over with
  • Forming a safety plan
  • Making your home safe
  • Help you to go to court and get legal protection
  • Support with housing
  • Help with accessing benefits and budgeting
  • Support for your children
  • Help with accessing training or employment support
  • Help with counselling
  • Help to feel safe and rebuild your life
  • We can also support you if you wish to use the criminal justice process to prosecute the abuser.


We can offer you specialist support

  • If you are a young person
  • If you are black or from a minority ethnic community
  • If you are a male victim
  • If you are from the LGBTQ+ community
  • If you have a Learning Disability
  • If you need substance misuse support
  • If you need support with you mental health
  • If you are deaf or have hearing issues
  • If you are at risk from ‘Honour’ based abuse or forced marriage

 

Bristol Northern and Southern Arcs

We have offices in the south of the city in Hartcliffe and one in the north in Southmead, as well as our central base in Clifton.

We also provide drop in surgeries at a range of local community venues including Children’s Centre and Barton Hill Settlement.

To contact the Northern Arc call 0117 9822495
To contact the Southern Arc call 0117 3533853


North Somerset and South Gloucestershire “Reaching Out” Rural IDVA service

We know that survivors in rural settings often suffer greatly and are less able to seek help.
National Rural Crime Network Research showed:

  • Abuse lasts on average 25% longer in the most rural areas
  • Support services are scarce – less available, less visible and less effective
  • The more rural the setting the higher the risk of harm
  • Retreating rural resources make help and escape harder
  • Rurality and isolation are deliberately used as weapons by abusers

This much needed service reaches out to rural victims to offer help and at the same time train and support champions in the community to raise awareness of domestic abuse and refer into our services.


Drive Programme

Our Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) support victims of the perpetrators who are taking part in the DRIVE programme in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset. This programme challenges perpetrators and hopes to change their behaviour. Our IDVAs support the victims to ensure they stay safe while the perpetrator is on the programme, making sure that the survivor’s voice, safety and wellbeing is central in the intervention.


Sanctuary Scheme

Wherever possible, victims and their children should be supported to be able to remain safely in their home with the abusive partner removed. That’s why we have a Sanctuary Scheme co-ordinator, who works closely with the IDVAs, Council Housing colleagues, Avon Fire and Rescue and Avon and Somerset Police to provide enhance safety measures in the home.

It’s estimated* that support from specialist domestic abuse services can save the public purse £159,407 for each person supported

*Women’s Aid. (2023) Investing to save: the economic case for funding specialist domestic abuse support. Bristol: Women’s Aid.