Domestic abuse

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Next Link Plus

Next Link Plus provides support services for women, men, children and members of the LGBT community in South Gloucestershire who are or have been victims of domestic abuse. Their services include telephone help and advice, safe house accommodation, community outreach services and group programmes.

Referrals can be made by telephone, email or through the Next Link Plus Website. At the first point of contact there is a triage advice service, and all victims asking for support are offered a relevant service that meets their needs and responds to their immediate safety risks.

Callers wanting advice and guidance can access the accredited advice service.  Callers can also talk anonymously with our support workers through the live chat helpline which is open daily through our website.

Next Link Plus South Gloucestershire domestic abuse telephone help lines are open on 0800 4700 280

  • 8:30am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday
  • 9:30am – 1:00pm on Saturday

There is 24-hour emergency phone support if you call outside these hours but if you are in immediate danger ring 999.

Next Link Plus contact details: 

We work in partnership with Lyons Davidson Solicitors for Family Law advice. 

Their contact details are:

Bristol Office – 43 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4QP. 

Office opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm.  For contact with their main reception, please call 0344 251 0070, calls are recorded for training and quality purposes. 

Email: enquiries@lyonsdavidson.co.uk

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Domestic violence and abuse happens in all communities and anyone can be a victim regardless of age, race, income, religion, sex, disability, culture or sexual orientation. 

It is very common and we also know that it is a very hidden crime, with many victims not reporting it to the police.  If you or a friend need help support is available.  There are people who will listen to you and can give you advice on how to keep and stay safe.

Types of domestic violence

Domestic violence and abuse can be psychological, physical, financial or emotional. It can include:

  • emotional – being called names, being made to feel bad about yourself, being stopped from going out, being told what you can or can’t wear
  • financial or economic– being kept short of money or not being allowed to make decisions about money
  • physical – being hit, punched, kicked, slapped or pushed
  • psychological – being told you are a bad parent, or that children will be taken away from you or being deliberately isolated from friends and family
  • sexual – being forced to have sex when you do not want to
  • control – not being allowed to go where you want, when you want
  • coercion – for example, being forced to do things you don’t want to do.

Call 999 if a crime is happening now or you’re in immediate danger.

Domestic violence and abuse can be perpetrated by a partner, ex-partner, family member or carer.

It’s really important to remember that whatever your circumstances, what is happening to you isn’t your fault and help is available.  Domestic violence and abuse isn’t acceptable and the victim is never to blame.

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Get support

Freedom programme

Freedom Programme is a 12-week rolling programme open to any woman who wishes to learn more about the reality of domestic abuse. Contact Next Link Plus for details of where programmes are running in South Gloucestershire. The programme aims to:

  • help women understand the beliefs held by abusive men and in so doing recognise which of these beliefs they have shared
  • illustrate the effects of domestic abuse on children
  • assist women to recognise potential future abusers
  • help women gain self-esteem and develop their confidence to improve the quality of their lives
  • introduce women to local domestic abuse services that can help them

Safelink provide independent support for anyone (women, men, and children) who has been the victim of rape and sexual abuse across the whole of Avon and Somerset area.  You do NOT have to report to the police to access our services.  We also provide women’s mental health and domestic abuse support services.

Website: www.safelinksupport.co.uk

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Kinergy is a registered charity offering counselling up to 24 weeks, group work and a monthly support group to men and women who are survivors of sexual abuse and rape. Based in Kingswood Kinergy works with people from the surrounding areas – predominantly South Gloucestershire and Bristol, and people travel from as far as Bath and North East Somerset.

Kinergy has 20 years’ experience of providing specialist trauma informed counselling. We recognise the deep and far reaching effects of sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse.

There is a deep understanding of how sexual abuse and childhood sexual abuse can affect all areas of a person’s life and the aim is to provide a safe, accepting and supportive environment where people can come to terms with the past, enjoy the present and look forward to the future.

Kinergy also provides counselling through the iaptus referral pathway (NHS) as a specialist counselling agency step 3.

To find out more about these services please call 0117 908 7712 or

Email: contact@kinergy.org.uk
Web: www.kinergy.org.uk

SARSAS provides support to people in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, B&NES, North Somerset and Somerset, who have experienced rape or any kind of sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives.
To find out more about this service please call 0808 801 0456 or 0808 801 0464

Email: support@sarsas.org.uk
Website: https://www.sarsas.org.uk/

Survivor Pathway is an online resource for anyone wanting to know more about specialist sexual violence support service in the South West.  You can find information by visiting their website https://www.survivorpathway.org.uk/

Kooth counselling is a free, safe and anonymous online support for young people.

Brook provide help and advice relating to healthy lives for young people, their abuse and violence page covers types of abuse and real life stories.

The Mix’s relationships page has a great deal of content and advice for young people. They also have a tool for people with concerns about whether or not your relationship is healthy.

The Hideout is another good website aimed at children and young people.

Respect provide a Domestic abuse helpline for men.

Galop - the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. Galop has provided advice, support, research and lobbying around the issues of LGBT+ policing for over 30 years.

LGBT+ Domestic abuse helpline: 0800 999 5428

Surviving economic abuse website provides information and support on economic abuse.

Opoka provide practical and emotional support, safe accommodation, counselling and therapeutic programs for women and children in the Polish communities.  The details below are available in English or Polish, please select your preference.

Opoka website homepage - English / Polish
Opoka Helpline - English / Polish 
Opoka Referral forms - English / Polish
Opoka services - English / Polish

Support offered by libraries

If you are living with domestic abuse, it can be very hard to ask for help, public libraries are safe places where anyone can go to find out about the support available. 

Library computers are free to use to access the internet safely to seek information and support without fear of anyone being aware of the information you are checking. The computers are reset every time they are used so an abuser cannot track a search. 

The library service has worked with Next Link Plus South Gloucestershire  to choose books to support victims of domestic abuse and for readers interested in widening their knowledge of the issues. These books can be read in the library or borrowed discreetly on our self-service kiosk and taken away.

 

If you have any queries relating to the contents of this page, or regarding DVA services at local authority level, please contact:

Email: communitysafetyteam@southglos.gov.uk
Tel: 01454 868751

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