The short-term support offered by the Crisis Intervention IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) is really the start of your journey. We will work with you to assess and manage the risk you are in and develop safety and support plans with you on short, medium, and long-term goals, supporting you to access and navigate through the Criminal Justice System.

If you are planning to leave an abusive partner, we will work with you to assess and manage the risk you are in. Our domestic abuse support workers will signpost post you to relevant services, we’ll help you understand and address the risks involved. Together, we’ll explore options available to you and create a safe planned leave.

We also provide short-term support to you to move forward in your recovery journey. We will develop a client led support plan looking at your short, medium, and long-term goals.

We have specially trained hospital IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) who are based at Bradford Royal Infirmary, Airedale Hospital and in the community. Their role is to ensure you are safe, to offer support, to talk to you about the services we offer and if appropriate refer you into the service for further support once you are discharged.

Our Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) can support anyone who has been the victim of sexual violence – no matter when the incident took place. Our ISVAs can support you in reporting the crime, or if your case is going through the criminal justice system, we can support you through the court process and explain what is likely to happen when a report is made to the police.

People who are LGBT+ can experience abuse too and sadly are much less likely to get help. Our advocate works with organisations and groups around Bradford to try and encourage LGBT+ people to seek support. The LGBT+ advocate provides a service by and for the LGBT+ community and supports survivors to make safety plans, address housing needs, access benefits and legal support and report to the police if they want.

Our Early Intervention and Prevention Practitioner works to identify and provide effective early support to people who are at risk. We work in schools and other organisations to raise awareness of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The team provides a range of group work programmes with the aim to promote a culture of change to prevent and reduce repeat victimisation, to improve mental wellbeing, to increase education and employment opportunities and to ensure community integration.