To mark the last day of #nomoreweek, we're introducing our member Voices, a Bath-based charity founded in 2014 by a small group of local women who had themselves experienced domestic abuse. Voices provides trauma-informed recovery support for people within B&NES who have experienced current or historic domestic abuse.
The charity, led by co-founder & CEO Ursula Lindenberg, provides a welcoming women-only safe space for survivors to connect & support one another, as well as providing advice & signposting for male and LGBTQ+ victims & survivors. With a mission to “place the voices of lived experience at the heart of all that they do”, VOICES provides a platform that enables the voices of victims and survivors to inform and improve policy, service, and culture change - transforming the lives of those affected by Domestic Abuse.
Adopting a non-judgemental, empathetic, client-centred approach, Voices provides the following SERVICES:
- Community-based Recovery & Empowerment Programmes for women with experience of domestic abuse, including the Freedom Programme, Recovery Toolkit & MATES social Group. - One-to-One Recovery Support & Counselling
- A FREE Legal Clinic for those who are unable to obtain Legal Aid - Bespoke Training & Consultation for professionals & organisations based on survivor insights.
- Education & Awareness-raising of the nature & impacts of domestic abuse, & of the needs of survivors & their families.
Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, VOICES have continued to provide specialist face to face & online support, advice, & counselling to their clients. In addition, they have also supported with remote family court hearings & benefits appeals. VOICES are currently supporting at a caseload level that they had anticipated reaching two years from now, & whilst they have emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever as a service provision, the charity itself still faces a challenge to survive and rebuild, particularly at a time when Domestic Abuse & Trauma
-Focussed services are in more demand than ever before. Community Support for local charities such as VOICES has been never more needed.
If you would like to make an online donation to help support VOICES, please use the following link: https://localgiving.org/voices
