Our Story

Over 22 years, we have supported over 10,000 individuals. Our work helps: survivors to move on and avoid future abusive relationships; perpetrators to change their behaviour and cease to abuse; children and young people to recover from the trauma of living with domestic and sexual abuse.

Here in West Cumbria, rates of domestic abuse are five per cent above the national average and referrals to our service are increasing. We are the only organisation offering free, long-term, community-based support in our area.

We’ve seen a huge change in how domestic abuse is perceived. When our charity started its work, domestic violence was either not talked about or simply brushed off as ‘a domestic’. There was nowhere for victims to turn. That has changed profoundly. TV and radio drama have played an important role. Powerful storylines in Eastenders, Emmerdale, and The Archers have brought the subject into our living rooms.

We’ve seen a collaborative, multi-agency approach develop in recent years. Even though we’ve come a long way, there’s a lot more to do. But we can eradicate domestic abuse if we work together to address it.

In 2019:

We provide advice, information, guidance, and one-to-one and peer group mentoring. This is designed to help them make long-term and lasting changes to people’s lives. The ultimate aim is that they and their children can live free of the traumas of abuse, with improved self-esteem, and self-confidence.

We work with perpetrators as well as survivors, family members, and children. It’s all about trying to break the cycle. Often, perpetrators have witnessed abuse when they were children. And their children may go on to replicate the behaviour.

That depressing pattern, handed down from generation to generation, can seem impossible to defeat. But we find that most people, when challenged about their behaviour, want to change. The unique dynamic of domestic abuse is that those involved often love each other. They might have children together. It can be very difficult to seek help and challenge someone’s behaviour if you share these deep bonds. But it can also provide an incentive to change.

We are working to break the cycle of abuse by:

Providing a combination of groups sessions (for adult victims, younger children and older children)

Delivering one-to-one counselling

Working in partnership with Cumbria County Council, the NHS, Cumbria Police and Victim Support

Supporting access to education, training and employment

Bringing abuse into the open by awareness raising in the community

Funders & Supporters

We are fortunate to receive support from a wide range of organisations and funders throughout the year. We couldn’t do what we do without you. Thank you.

If you would like to be funder, supporter, or even provide us with a donation for one of our regular fundraising raffles, please let us know.

Our Funding Bodies:

Sellafield provided vital funding for salaries and general running costs. Their most recent grant has enabled us to maintain our services, staff capacity and resource base.

BBC Children in Need provide us with funding for children’s 1-1 counselling and therapy groups, which help children suffering from the effects of domestic and sexual abuse.

Financial support from the Copeland Community Fund contributes to all costs for Copeland residents, including counselling and staff salaries.

The Foundation funds volunteer costs. This is vital in keeping the helpline service running, and in covering costs incurred by volunteers (such as mileage).