Life in Salford 36 • March 2022 32
Meet the new domestic abuse service
Safe in Salford Listening, understanding, practical help and support to break the cycle of domestic abuse. Those are the commitments at the heart of the new Safe in Salford service. Services will be based in Salford and, while the ‘single front door’ approach makes it easy to get support, safety is paramount and services for survivors and perpetrators will be kept entirely separate. From weekly surgeries and drop-ins to groups and one-to-one help, Safe in Salford aims to provide all the support you need to stabilise your situation and break free of domestic abuse.
Advice and support sessions, often delivered by people who have lived with domestic abuse, will cover safety planning, practical, emotional, health, housing, welfare, debt and legal issues. Independent domestic violence advocates (IDVAs) will help people get to safety and rebuild their lives with a package of support from services and organisations. Training for all GPs in Salford will continue to help them recognise domestic abuse, and quickly refer patients to specialist support. Support for children and young people will help them form positive, healthy relationships. And group or one-to-one sessions with perpetrators will challenge them to address and change their behaviour.
Meet the team Salford Foundation leads the partnership. It runs the National Lottery funded Indigo Project, services for young men and women and offers long-term, one to one, group and peer support and advice. The Pankhurst trust supports 2,500 survivors every year and provides training to more than 3,000 professionals, organisations and people every year. It specialises in prevention, early intervention, community and accommodation-based services for adults and children.
TDAS has been working in Salford since April 2020, supporting families and training professionals. Its Harbour service works with children aged five to 18 who have experienced domestic abuse and TDAS supports children and families after separation from their abuser. TLC: Talk, Listen Change delivers successful perpetrator behaviour change programmes in Salford and across Greater Manchester as well as counselling and support for partners of abusers and children.
