Buckinghamshire Support Services
In Buckinghamshire, thousands of people are affected by domestic abuse every year.
The Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Board is dedicated to helping victims and preventing abuse, and will continue in their task to make the county and its residents as safe as possible.
For the most up to date information please visit the Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Partnership site.
Domestic Abuse Support Services
Wycombe Women’s Aid (WWA)
WWA covers Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks. They provide support to women and children experiencing the effects of domestic abuse by offering safe, temporary and emergency accommodation as well as practical and emotional support within the refuge and through outreach in the local community.
Wycombe Women’s Aid provides:
- Helpline
- Support for women and children living in the refuge
- Counselling
- Outreach
- IDVA
- Youth Work
You can access the above services via telephone and a variety of video and messaging platforms.
Website: www.wycombewomensaid.org.uk
Helpline: 01494 461367
Thames Valley Police Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit
The local Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit can be contacted via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number (101). In an emergency always call 999.
Aylesbury Women’s Aid (AWA)
AWA covers Aylesbury Vale and The Chilterns and exists for the benefit of all women and their children who are or have experienced physical, mental, emotional, financial or sexual abuse in their relationships and to offer support, information, advice, access to temporary safe accommodation and aftercare. It operates from a feminist perspective and is committed to the principle of self-help and encourages women to determine their own futures by making information available in an accessible way and supporting women to make their own choices. You can make a referral via their website.
Website: www.aylesburywomensaid.org.uk
Helpline: 01296 436827 / 01296 437777
Out of hours: 07742162484
Children & Young People
The Buckinghamshire Council Commissioned service for families and young people is SASH. They are a partnership project providing support to children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse or sexual harm. This project brings together specialist and established services from SAASSBMK and SAFE!. They provide support to Children, and Young People aged 5 to 18 years by delivering a responsive, individually tailored specialist support service in Buckinghamshire to those who have been affected by rape, sexual assault, and domestic abuse.
Website: www.sashbucks.org.uk
Make a Referral: https://cms.safeproject.org.uk/refer?service=4
Phone number: 07546561186
Training
Bucks Training Catalogue
Website: https://bucksdap.org.uk/training-learning/bucks-training-catalogue
Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse
Find out about all available training here
Sign in to the Hub: https://www.hub.reducingtherisk.org.uk/homepage
Legal Services
Flag DV
FLAG DV, Free Legal Advice Group for Domestic Violence, is a charity providing free legal advice from family law solicitors. They focus on empowerment, protection and choice and operate across Thames Valley in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. To access their service, please complete their referral form. They also operate a phone line ensuring all victims can access the service. Support is available to any domestic abuse victim in the Thames Valley, no matter their gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Website: www.flagdv.org.uk
Phone: 01635 015854 Mon/Wed/Fri 11am – 1pm (voicemail service outside of these hours)
Email: enquiries@flagdv.org.uk
Specialist Services
Sexual Abuse and Support Service Bucks and Milton Keynes
This service provides support to females and males aged 16 and over living in Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes who have experienced sexual assault and abuse, and males living in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes who have experienced domestic abuse, with the aim of enabling survivors to live fulfilling lives. They provide an IDVA service for male victims of domestic abuse and have a useful flyer and leaflet about these services.
Aylesbury Phone: 01296 392468
MK Phone: 01908 201971
Website: https://saassbmk.org.uk/
SAM-Support After Assault and Abuse for Men
Free, Confidential and Non-judgemental support for the Male Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse
Phone: 01296 392478/ 01908 201971
Email: support@samproject.org.uk
Website: https://samproject.org.uk/
Aurora New Dawn-Armed Forces
We offer support to any serving member of the British Army or Royal Navy who is experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence or stalking.
https://www.aurorand.org.uk/armed-forces/
Housing and Homeless Services
If you are a victim of domestic abuse and you need to move to keep yourself and your family safe you can contact any local authority to make a homeless application. This is particularly important if you are not safe in your current accommodation.
Do not place yourself at risk. If you are in danger, calling the police emergency number 999 should be your first action.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse and think you need to leave your home to keep yourself and your family safe, you can contact any local authority to make a
homeless application.
If you do need to leave your home, it might be that you could stay with friends or relatives while you think about what to do next.
Please contact the Homelessness and Advice team as soon as you can. We will look at each case individually and consider how best we can assist you.
Try to take essentials like a change of clothes, toiletries and any medication you need to take regularly with you. You should also try to take important items such as your passport, bank and credit cards and your mobile phone.
Do not make a decision to give up your home permanently until you have spoken to a Homelessness adviser and considered all your options.
If you are a tenant of a housing association, you should also speak with them. They may have homes in other areas and be able to assist you to move and avoid the need for you to move into temporary accommodation.
If you’re at risk of homelessness, fill in the housing assistance form.
If you need general advice about accommodation, telephone the Buckinghamshire Council’s Homelessness and Advice service on 0300 1316000 during office hours.
You can also email homelessness@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
If you are in an emergency situation, you will be given advice and support on the day by a Duty Homelessness Advisor. You can attend our CAP+ offices during office hours.
For emergency out-of-hours housing assistance from the council, telephone 0800 999 7677
Useful Documents
Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Partnership aims to better inform victims and professionals across the county by providing a one stop shop of information. For victims it includes the support offer and how to access it if you think you might be experiencing domestic abuse. Toolkits and guidance are available for professionals in Bucks to ensure a clear approach to engaging with victims (including children and young people) and perpetrators and successfully delivering in our “tell us once” ethos.
Domestic Abuse- What is it?– A guide to help you spot the signs of domestic abuse (DA)and how to deal with it.
Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Partnership Website– Informative flyer
Worried about Domestic Abuse?– Downloadable Poster
Domestic Abuse Champions– Reducing the Risk of DA- information leaflet
Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls Strategy 2024-2027 – Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Boards strategy to ensure victims have the best support to reduce domestic abuse.
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