Global majority communities

We recognise the importance of diversity and to ensure our services are inclusive we have a dedicated black and minoritised woman’s safe house and IDVAs. Workers assist families in crisis, and they offer culturally sensitive support and help to access legal and practical remedies to enable women and children to remain in their family home and lower repeat incidents of domestic abuse. Our dedicated South Asian workers provide support and crisis intervention to South Asian survivors who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Nilaari, a black and minoritised led charity, provides specialist, culturally relevant therapeutic support to survivors in both our safe house and community services.


Forced Marriage and ‘Honour’ Based Violence

Support for victims who have either been forced into marriage or those at risk of forced marriage or honour-based violence. We offer confidential advice and support to look at all the options available including accessing legal remedies and help to plan their future.

LGBTQ+ Support

We have a specialist service providing IDVA support to survivors from the LGBTQ+ community, whilst also raising awareness of domestic abuse and improving referral pathways into our safe house and community services.

 

Survivors with Disabilities

Survivors with disabilities and care and support needs

Learning Disability Specialist

Accessible safe house spaces

We know that women who are deaf or have a disability are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse. We have collaborated with SignHealth, a national deaf health charity, to provide dedicated support to deaf survivors and make our services more accessible.

Building on our expertise of providing support to victims of rape who have a Learning Disability, we also offer one to one and group work support to LD survivors of domestic abuse.

 

Older Survivors

We have seen a sharp increase in older women reaching out for support, particularly those who have care and support needs. We know that some perpetrators can also mask as carers, and our dedicated IDVA works closely with adult social care to support survivors whilst also raising awareness about the needs of older survivors of domestic abuse.

 

Multiple Disadvantage

Women who have multiple needs such as substance misuse issues, mental ill health, are trapped in street sex working or have histories of offending are often experiencing domestic and sexual violence and abuse. Many are marginalised and isolated, and in relationships where the perpetrator uses their vulnerabilities such as addiction and mental ill health to have even greater power and control. We have dedicated multiple disadvantage IDSVAs in our short-term intensive team and community teams, as well as a complex needs safe house.

We have collaborated with Bristol Drugs Project so that all survivors who have substance misuse needs can get the support they need to be safe from abuse. We also work in partnership with St Mungo’s, providing 10 beds to women who have experienced violence and abuse and have multiple and complex needs.

It is estimated that 2.4 million adults experience domestic abuse every year