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Domestic Abuse Community Support

by Black Country Women's Aid

About our activities / service

SWA (Sandwell Women’s Aid) offer the nationally recognised Independent Domestic Violence (IDVA) Service. IDVAs are trained specialists who provide a service to victims of domestic abuse who are at risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members, with the aim of securing their safety and the safety of their children. You can access an IDVA’s support by contacting us directly, or through referral by other agency professionals such as health workers or the police. The support that an IDVA can provide includes: •Listening to you and being there for you •Advice and support planning tailored to your needs •Risk assessments and safety planning including practical steps for protection to keep you and your children safe •Support and advice through the Criminal Justice system •Information about Non Molestation Orders •Signposting and assisting access to other agencies who can help e.g. Refuge, housing, immigration, counselling and legal services •Maximising your safety by working closely with other agencies to reduce the risk of harm that you face, representing you at Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) •Referral for one-to-one counselling •Group work and activities including confidence building, the Freedom Programme, Expect Respect programme and Health and Wellbeing Although IDVAs work closely with other organisations to ensure you get the best support, they are independent of all statutory agencies including the Police, Local Authority and Social Services. All services are confidential and follow professional codes of practice.

Staff qualifications	Staff qualified
Genders	All
Age focus	18 year olds, 19-25 year olds, 26-65 year olds, 65+ year olds

About the organisation

Black Country Women’s Aid is an independent charity which has been supporting victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the West Midlands for the last 25 years. BCWA offer sensitive and holistic support services which help victims of abuse to escape from violence, cope with trauma and move on with their lives. Support services include: • Domestic Abuse team supporting victims (female and male) in the community and at court; • Domestic Abuse Refuges offering a safe place to stay for women and children escaping their abusers; • Black Country Rape and Sexual Violence Service supporting victims (female and male) of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse with practical advocacy and specialist counselling; • Young People’s Team supporting children and young people who have suffered domestic abuse, rape and child sexual exploitation and providing education work in Sandwell schools; • Modern Day Slavery Service offers safe refuge and community support to people under the NRM (National Referral Mechanism) who have been trafficked to the UK; • Women’s Justice Services providing support to female offenders. BCWA also provide training and awareness sessions to professionals and community members across all of these specialist areas. BCWA work in partnership with statutory and voluntary services to support victims, raise awareness of issues of abuse, and develop new approaches to reaching the most vulnerable victims.