Nottingham City Council has a strategy (plan) to support survivors of domestic abuse; it is called the Safer Accommodation Strategy. As part of this strategy, Nottingham City Council wants to talk to and listen to domestic abuse survivors.
They want to understand:
- The needs or issues that are experienced in Nottingham City
- How to change and improve services provided
- How to design new services
- How to empower and support the hopes and ambitions of survivors
- How to build better skills in those responding to domestic abuse
Nottingham City Council will build this understanding into their plans and decisions on:
- What services are needed and how to support survivors
- Whether services know what is expected of them and are working well
- How money is spent
- Their priorities and whether their strategy/plan is working
They will ensure other services share this understanding. Services such as police, housing, health, probation, and specialist services.
This year, 2024, they want to learn specifically about LGBTQ+ survivors experiences and opinions.
An experienced independent facilitator, Anna, will initially call to discuss the project, to talk through any risks to taking part, and how you can be involved.
For example, involvement may be through 1-1 interviews on the phone, online, or face to face, or focus groups.
All conversations and feedback will be anonymous—no one can be identified.
You can change your mind at any point and do not have to take part.
The focus groups or interviews
You will be asked open questions relating to different topics.
Your opinions and feedback will be anonymised and collated into a report that will go to:
- Commissioners at Nottingham City Council and Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse Strategy groups
- Domestic abuse specialist services, Voluntary Sector partners, and community groups
Who they need
The project needs domestic abuse survivors:
- Who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community
- Who are safe to engage in a consultation
- Who are adults
- From a wide variety of backgrounds and circumstances
- From all of Nottingham’s diverse communities
Taking part
For those who take part in the sessions:
- All expenses will be paid
- There will be refreshments and snacks available when face to face
- Whilst they cannot pay people, they can give you a £20 voucher as a thank you
Accessibility
They will discuss with each individual their barriers to taking part and find ways to minimise them, e.g., translators, transport, venue accessibility, documents in different formats, and accompanied support.
Safety
The team wants people to be and feel safe if they take part in the project. Having a voice about services and experiences can be an empowering experience but can also be triggering. They will talk to individuals about whether taking part will benefit them more than harm them. They will talk to people before taking part about how to be safe whilst talking to them and after they have talked.
Self-care
The project will encourage anyone taking part in interviews or focus groups to be aware that the discussions could be upsetting or they could hear or say things that trigger a response. When taking part in consultation, they will suggest planning self-care following the sessions.
General support services are:
- Domestic abuse helpline, women and children: 0808 800 0340
- Domestic abuse helpline, men: 0800 995 6999
- Sexual abuse helpline: 0115 941 0440
- Mental Health Support: 0808 196 3779
Safeguarding
The project takes safeguarding seriously, and if anything is raised that highlights someone is currently at risk, they will take action. This may involve sharing information outside of confidentiality.
For more information, or to take part, please contact anna by email at annac@junowomensaid.org.uk, or by phone at 07485 352011.
