How does The Dash Charity support people experiencing domestic abuse?

The Dash charity has a team of Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA’s) that can help you if you live in East Berkshire and are experiencing domestic abuse from a partner (ex) or family member. IDVA’s can support clients who are currently in an abusive relationship, as well as those who have left an abusive relationship, are considering separation or experiencing abuse/harassment from ex-partners or family members.

Once assessed, we can offer a tailored service including crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy and support that is non judgemental and confidential, from a trained and experienced member of our team. Our specialist IDVA’s include:

  • Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) IDVA’s who have understanding of the challenges faced by victims from BAME community groups and extensive knowledge of issues such as Honour Based Violence & Forced Marriage.

  • Male Outreach Worker who can support male victims of domestic abuse.

  • Complex Needs IDVA who can support clients who have additional substance/alcohol misuse/mental health issues.

  • Hospital IDVA to support victims attending the local hospital

  • Health IDVA who can support victims who have additional health/maternity needs

  • Diversity IDVA who can support victims who have additional barriers to support due to sexuality.

Freedom Programme

The Dash Charity are trained and experienced in providing The Freedom programme - it is a free 12 week rolling group that provides women with the opportunity to explore the realities of domestic abuse in a safe, supportive group environment and learn strategies to help recognise abusive tactics and break free.

Children’s Services Team

Our award winning team seeks to provide strategies to keep children, young people and their families safe from further harm. Our services have been shaped to enable children and young people to understand the abuse they have been exposed to or experienced and subsequently move forward in a positive manner, to gain the best possible life chances.Children may be supported via direct work, therapeutic groups or via schools workshops.

Refuge Services

For women and their children whose level of suffering from domestic abuse has been assessed as ‘very high risk’, we can offer safe and secure accommodation, either locally or via accessing an national network of refuges.

Caron

Having worked as a registered midwife for over 20 years, Caron joined the Dash Charity as a volunteer in 2007 and soon became a member of the staff team, working as a practitioner supporting families who had fled domestic abuse to refuge accommodation. Caron completed her SafeLives (formerly CAADA) Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) qualification in 2009 and subsequently became one of the very first members of the Dash’s Charity newly formed Advocacy and Outreach Team. Caron has been an integral part of the subsequent growth of this team, helping to shape and develop a team which has recently been reaccredited with the SafeLives Leading Lights status, a mark of excellence within the domestic abuse sector. Caron currently works as the Deputy Service Manager of the Team, supervising and mentoring front-line staff and also holds a caseload of clients as the Health IDVA, working to proactively engage with practitioners within key Health Settings to identify, safeguard and support clients experiencing domestic abuse. With her vast experience within the sector and passion for the cause, Caron recently spent a year as the Dash Charity’s Training Co-ordinator, designing and delivering bespoke training packages to a widerange of community and statutory partners including the Police, Social Workers and GPs. Consequently, Caron won a national award in 2014 in the form of Charity Comms ‘Inspiring Communicator of the Year’ .