Covid-19 - what are we doing?

We know that this is a worrying time for everyone at the moment as we all try to deal with the ever-changing situation, and try to stay up to date with current health advice around self-isolation and social distancing.

We also know that the government’s advice on self or household-isolation will have a direct impact on women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Home is not likely to be a safe place for survivors of domestic abuse and we are concerned that social distancing and self-isolation will be used as a tool of coercive and controlling behaviour by perpetrators, and will shut down routes to safety and support.

As part of our commitment to individuals experiencing domestic abuse and their families who are worried about them - we’re doing our very best to make sure that we are always available to respond and help. Your safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we are prioritising our services in relation to safety and support above everything else.

The way we offer our support might look a little different at the moment as we work to keep our staff well & healthy so that they can continue providing services.

We have taken the following decisions with everyone’s safety and wellbeing in mind:

We have paused our group-work (Freedom programmes & Healthy Relationships groups) for the foreseeable future until the government guidance changes to support the reintroduction of gatherings and the removal social distancing.
In discussion with our partner agencies we have taken our staff out of community locations for the foreseeable future until government guidance changes.
We are offering telephone support to our clients, focusing on safety and support.
Our Refuges remain open and taking referrals for any vacancies we may have.

We know from speaking to some women, that accessing support online or via text can be a safer or preferred option rather than calling for support if they are not able to leave the household, as the perpetrator could overhear them on the phone. Our practitioners are aware of this and are working with our current clients right now to ensure that our methods of contact are safe and don’t put them at any additional risk.

Staying connected matters, now as much as it ever has and we believe that we all can play a part in helping each other get through this. If you can be there for each other, we encourage you to go for it… better to help too much than not enough. And a bit of advice that we feel is never a bad idea: Reach out often to those you love and let them know you care.

Just like you, our ways of life are changing every day, and we are working hard to adapt in the best interests of the people we support and our employees. We’re in this together, we are as committed as ever, and will do everything in our power to take care of one another.

If you, or someone you know, are experiencing abuse, please visit our support page, where you can access advice, guidance and find information about how to make a referral for services.

In an emergency, call 999.

Latest

A Story from a Survivor

I had to leave as a duty of care to my children and for the fact I couldn’t take anymore and believed I was insane. I went to the council for help and they put me in touch with Next Chapter. Amber was my first support worker and she was the light in a terribly dark time. I doubted myself often as emotional abuse is so hard to prove and is so subjective. But she was with me the whole time when I eventually managed to move out.
New Year ... New You?

A few months ago, there was a serious incident whereby the police were called, the abuser was taken into custody. Dawn was relieved but at the same time terrified of what the implications would now mean for her and the kids. Thankfully, Dawn was referred to our services by the Police Officer who had attended that night. Dawn knew deep down that she had no choice but to face this now, head on, she was sooooo brave in doing so.
12 Days of Success

One of my real highs was with a client who had endured abuse for 18 years, to ensure her safety and anonymity, I will be calling her Rebecca. Rebecca’s abuse took the form of coercive control, isolation from friends and family, manipulation, and physical abuse. She had already taken a major step in her journey before coming into our service, by splitting up with her perpetrator. The outstanding abuse and issues that needed to be resolved mainly occurred through child contact, which is sadly the
Be authentic this Christmas

Maybe this relationship is not quite what you thought it was, last Christmas was truly amazing but this Christmas you are just not sure what is going on. He is slowly starting to stop you from being who you want to be, maybe your friends and family have pointed out that you are distant or seem unhappy? This is the time to speak to someone, Next Chapter are here to listen and offer advice, it can be hard to discuss these types of worries to people you are close to and who know your partner.

Domestic Violence Lockdown Appeal

Lockdown increases the opportunities that abusers can coerce or abuse women and children.
Our Services

We work with survivors of domestic abuse to help them make choices to reclaim their lives and begin their next chapter.
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Our approach

We continually innovate to offer high quality services to support people affected by domestic abuse and create lasting change.
Volunteer for us

Our volunteers bring invaluable experience and enthusiasm to our organisation, and help to strengthen our links to the communities we serve.
Partnerships and memberships

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Funders

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Our journey

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Mission, Vision & Values

Find out what gets us up every morning and keeps us delivering the very best advice & support that we can, each & every time.
Our history

How to move forward from loss and grief

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How does domestic abuse differ in other cultures?

The actions of individuals are influenced by the norms, values, language, and other cultural factors that are like the dust in the air that surrounds everyone. These cultural factors are ingrained in us from the day we are born, and can play a role in either ending or perpetuating domestic abuse.
Special Place in the Home

So, you survived Monday! Well done. One of the things that I am really missing is seeing my friends and family – we know that ‘being connected’ is really important for our mental health and emotional wellbeing. Having close positive relationships gives us a purpose and a sense of belonging. During this lockdown many of the ways we are usually connected to people – friends, family, work colleagues, school chums – have changed beyond all recognition.
The Role of an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

So, imagine for a moment that you’ve summoned up the courage to finally leave, you’re feeling vulnerable and afraid and understandably really nervous about what the future might hold –you have to try and find your way through all that…. that's if you even knew half of it existed in the first place or where and how to start to getting in touch with them… So that's where we IDVA’S come in.
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We know from speaking to our clients, that the lockdown has meant that some perpetrators may not be able to feed their addictions, or they may be over feeding their addictions due to boredom or frustration and this in turn will be affecting their mental health. There is so much research about the dangerous cocktail of this ‘toxic trio’ (the combination of domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health issues) as it leads to emotions being intensified which in turn drives behaviours.
Covid-19 - what are we doing?

As part of our commitment to individuals experiencing domestic abuse and their families who are worried about them - we’re doing our very best to make sure that we are always available to respond and help. Your safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we are prioritising our services in relation to safety and support above everything else.
Me, Myself and Abuser….

Slowly I started to realised that this would never change. That my prince charming doesn’t exist, it was just a mask and a trap to lure me in. I started looking for a way out. I couldn’t tell my friends and family the truth, they would judge me. They would ask me questions like “why didn’t you leave before?”, “why did you stay?” and “why did you have a baby with him?”. They would never understand that the hope my prince charming would return was stronger that any rational thinking.
Help in an emergency

What to do in an emergency. If you think that you are in immediate danger then you need to call 999 for the police.
What does Christmas mean to you?

Many of my clients talk to me about the fear of not creating the ‘perfect’ Christmas for their families, especially if there is ongoing domestic abuse. There is dread of Christmas not going to plan and believing it will be their fault and they will be blamed. My advice is clear, Christmas is one day and does not have to be perfect. Taking on the responsibility to make everything picture-perfect, is an impossible task. You are responsible for yourself and your children.
IDVA’s in lockdown

The IDVA team understands the impact lockdown has had and the additional difficulties, this has for our victims/survivors of domestic abuse for we all continue to break down these barriers and continue to be innovative in how we offer our support.