Following White Ribbon Day last Friday 25 November, Knowsley Council continues to raise awareness of the support available to residents who may be experiencing domestic abuse.
There are many ways those experiencing domestic abuse can find help and support, including from The First Step, a specialist domestic abuse service based in Knowsley for Knowsley residents. This free service offers emotional and practical support either by telephone, face to face at their office or can meet with you in the community. You can call 0151 548 3333 or email enquiries@thefirststep.org.uk. In an emergency always call 999.
What does The First Step do?
The aim of The First Step is to tackle and prevent Domestic Abuse in all its forms.
They put the victim/survivor at the centre of everything they do, are focussed on your healing after the trauma of abuse and provide support at every step of your journey to recovery.
The First Step’s specialist Domestic abuse Support Workers can help with a wide range of issues including:
- Information, advice, and support on a variety of issues, including housing, criminal justice systems, civil process, and family courts. Advice in relation to protective orders.
- Support to apply for injunctions
- Support advice through the criminal justice process
- Signpost to solicitors for legal advice
- Emotional and practical safety planning
- Referral to Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) – this is a meeting where information is shared on the highest risk domestic abuse cases between representatives to create a plan to reduce the risk of survivors of abuse and their children.
- Referral to The First Step Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates (IDVA). An IDVA is a specialist professional who works with a victim of domestic abuse to develop a trusting relationship. They can help a victim with everything they need to become safe and rebuild their life and represent their voice at a Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) as well as advocacy within the criminal justice and other statutory systems.
- Security of properties
- Advocate for victims with a range of services, organisations, and professionals to ensure their voice is heard.
- Arrange refuge if required or support to link in with Housing to access safe accommodation.
- Advice support around child protection, child contact.
- Collaboration working to ensure the best outcome for beneficiaries
- A range of group programmes to support you with your recovery form abuse.
- An opportunity to influence local and national responses to domestic abuse within our survivor engagement forum.
The First Step is the only service in Knowsley that accept self-referrals, often identifying people never previously known to services.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, the police are not your only option to get help. You can talk directly to The First Step and don’t need to be referred. Call 0151 548 3333 or email enquiries@thefirststep.org.uk. In an emergency always call 999.