Victim Support has today (Thursday 1 October) launched a new city-wide domestic abuse service in Birmingham. Funded by Birmingham Children’s Trust and Birmingham Best Start Family Hubs, Victim Support’s Birmingham Safer Futures service will be part of the city’s Early Help offer and will support non-abusive parents and children affected by domestic abuse. The service will aim to prevent the escalation of abuse, reduce harm, and ensure children and young people are safe, healthy and able to flourish.
Early Help Domestic Abuse Practitioners
Victim Support’s dedicated Early Help Domestic Abuse Practitioners will tailor how they help each family to their individual needs.
The team will offer extensive support, including:
- immediate advice, including on keeping safe
- guidance and reassurance
- group recovery programmes
- intensive 1:1 support
- direct support to children and young people
- parent-led support
The service will focus on families’ safety, wellbeing and ability to cope, while empowering them to understand their rights. This could include safety planning, emotional and practical support, and help with housing and finances.
Every child and adult deserves to feel safe
Victim Support understands that children and young people can be deeply affected by what they see, hear or experience, even if domestic abuse is not directed at them. The Birmingham Safer Futures service will recognise children and young people as victims in their own right and ensure they are central to the support provided.
Ben Donagh, West Midlands Area Manager for Victim Support, said:
We are incredibly proud to be delivering this specialist service in Birmingham. Domestic abuse can have a devastating impact on the whole family, and every child and adult affected deserves to feel safe, heard and supported.
We know that help from a specialist service can be life changing. We look forward to working with partners and communities to create safer futures for families across Birmingham.
Based in Family Hubs across the city
Birmingham Safer Futures‘ Family Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) will be co-located within all of Birmingham’s community-based centres, known as Family Hubs, as well as wider community settings, ensuring consistent access to support across the city.
The service will also deliver targeted training to professionals working with children and families across Birmingham. This will help staff build confidence in identifying and safely responding to domestic abuse – including specific risk factors such as pregnancy – and establishing clear pathways to support.
Nikki Plummer, Head of Domestic Abuse and Interpersonal Violence at Birmingham Children’s Trust, said:
Birmingham Children’s Trust and Birmingham Best Start Family Hubs are pleased to commission this important new service, which recognises the need for early help and timely support for children, young people and families affected by domestic abuse. By being based within local communities, the Birmingham Safer Futures service will help make specialist support more accessible, trusted and responsive to families’ needs, supporting safety, recovery and positive futures.
If you are affected by domestic abuse, you can also contact Victim Support, Birmingham Early Help or Birmingham’s Children’s Trust.
A press release by Victim Support.
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