We’ve got a lot coming up surrounding domestic violence awareness week later this month.

Every week 2 women die as a result of domestic abuse. Support Survive, transform lives.

“Even two years on, I still get overwhelmed when I think how much Survive helped me and my children.. I am now stronger than I could have imagined, my children are happy and we live in a loving, safe, happy home. Without Survive’s help I would have stayed with my abuser and most certainly be dead. Thank you Survive. X” (Service user)

See how you can get involved…..

Fundraise for us

We are asking people to support Survive during Domestic Violence Awareness week this November (24^th – 28^th) by Fundraising for us. Could you host your own event and help raise vital funds for Survive, as well as awareness of domestic abuse?

More details can be found here: http://survivedv.org.uk/fundraise-for-us

Candlelit Walk

There is also our annual candlelit walk as part of domestic violence awareness week. This will take place on Wednesday 26^th November from 5.45pm.

More details can be found here: http://survivedv.org.uk/candlelitwalk

Patchwork Quilt raffle

During Domestic Violence Awareness Week we will be auctioning a beautiful handmade quilt for one week only to raise money to transform the lives of those living with domestic abuse.

More details here can be found here: http://survivedv.org.uk/patchworkquilt

We can achieve more together than we can apart. Together towards freedom from domestic abuse.

South Gloucestershire Council are reviewing their Community Safety and Anti-social Behaviour team due to budget cuts of approximately 26%.

The consultation could have serious implications for domestic abuse services in our area, as two of the options to cut spending are reducing or cutting refuge space entirely, and cutting the community safety team that supports the sector.

Refuges are vital and help women and children escape, cope and rebuild their lives following domestic abuse. We need more refuges, not less or none! Refuges save lives. Two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner. This figure would definitely be higher without our refuges and without the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) system, which supports women at high risk of death or violence and is funded by the support to tackle domestic abuse stream also under threat.

The detail:

Funding of domestic abuse refuge (potential saving up to £162,188)

There are four options under consideration ranging from ceasing all funding for domestic violence refuge places, reducing the number of refuge places or continuing funding at the current level and finding savings from elsewhere.

Support to tackle domestic abuse (potential saving up to £81,346 staff, £37,879 supported services)

There are two options under consideration; continue to maintain funding at the present level or cease funding of support to tackle domestic abuse. This funding also supports other community safety initiatives as required.

Take a look at the consultation here: https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/consult.ti/CSPCommunitySafetyASB/consultationHome

This is something we obviously feel very strongly about. We have until December 5^th to feedback on the consultation either through their survey or by email.

The survey is here: http://hosted.southglos.gov.uk/snap/asb/sncspcommunitysafetyasb.htm

Alternatively you can email them your views at [email protected]

Please can you our supporters, friends, former service users, anyone who feels strongly about domestic abuse lend us your voice…

Let the council know your views and how much we need refuges and other services for domestic abuse.

Take a look at what one of our lovely supporters made for us for our 40th birthday following our celebrations last week. Thank you!

Thanks again to all who attended the big bash and to those who told their powerful stories. Whether people were telling their own story of their experiences, or why they are a supporter of ours, everyone spoke from the heart to make it a real celebration of our work over the years.

We were delighted to be joined by Brenda Bishop, our founder, who received a lifetime achievement award at the event.

We’ve had some great feedback from lots of people, so thought we’d share a couple of comments.

“It was amazing; inspiring, emotional, painful and uplifting in equal measure and completely humbling – thank you so much for the invitation.” Supporter

“Just to say how delighted I was to be invited to the event last night and very privileged to join the celebration of all Survive has achieved. It was really enjoyable and, at times, extremely moving, as Survive events always are.” Supporter

“If I said I had a lovely time, it wouldn’t really encompass the emotional range of the evening(!) but it was amazing.” Supporter

40 years of Survivors