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The founding members of CAADA include:
Click the names to view partners' sites. |
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Advance (Hammersmith and Fulham)
Advance provides a 24 hour advocacy service in West London to women experiencing domestic violence. It gives advice and practical support regarding legal matters, housing, benefits and safety planning. Part of an innovative partnership designed to improve services for victims of domestic violence which has brought together charities, the police, probation service, the local council and other statutory bodies, it has helped to contribute to a significant increase in the conviction rate of offenders, as well as giving women a genuine choice between staying at home safely and going to a refuge. |
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Standing Together (Hammersmith and Fulham)
Standing Together is the central co-ordinating charity within the Standing Together Partnership, of which Advance also plays a key part (see above). It is an independent entity that helps to hold the statutory and voluntary agencies accountable for their treatment of both survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence. It has an important role in training local agencies including the police, health professionals, magistrates and the Crown Prosecution Service. It convenes the management and operational committees for the partnership and resolves issues arising from these. Crucially, it has responsibility for gathering data from all relevant sources and putting it on a central database that can be used by partner agencies. This is critical in allowing effective analysis of the outcomes of the work of the partnership. |
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The Haven (Wolverhampton)
The Haven provides not only refuge accommodation, but also a 24-hour helpline, counselling and specialist support to the most vulnerable women of Wolverhampton such as those from the Asian community, women suffering from mental ill-health, women survivors of childhood sexual abuse and those working in the sex industry. The Haven also provides resettlement support and works extensively with children. Recently celebrating its 30th anniversary, it now runs 5 refuges, as well as developing more specialist counselling service and support for women whose partners are taking part in a perpetrators programme run by the local probation service. It has recently employed a specialist advocate to support high risk survivors of abuse living in the community. |
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Women's Safety Unit (Cardiff)
The work of the WSU is based on the Duluth model of community response to counter domestic abuse. It aims to reduce domestic abuse and rape by increased reporting and prosecution of perpetrators using multi-agency support for women and children and thus increase their choices and safety. It works to improve the quality and accessibility of information, advice and services to women and children experiencing abuse. It also aims to encourage and maintain a co-ordinated response between statutory agencies to facilitate the development of a common policy and best practice which will give survivors a greater chance to live their lives free of violence. The project has been active for about 4 years, and is currently receiving about 50 referrals a week. The WSU forms an important part of the MARAC process which has had impressive outcomes in reducing repeat victimisation for very high risk survivors. The WSU also offers a specialist service to lesbian and gay survivors as well as heterosexual male survivors. |
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HALT (Leeds)
HALT provides practical help to women regarding their rights and choices in both the civil and criminal justice systems. HALT has achieved remarkable success in bringing its cases to prosecution, in marked contrast to those without such support, where the vast majority collapse owing to the withdrawal by the victim of her statement. HALT workers help the victim in the preparation of her statement, keep her appraised of all developments with the case and accompany her to court. |
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