London Friend has joined the London LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP) following the closure of PACE as the provider of the specialist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) counselling service for victims of Domestic Violence and abuse.
The pioneering partnership is funded by London Councils and is the only specialist LGBT multi-agency Domestic Violence service, it is a way for LGBT victims / survivors of domestic abuse to get the maximum amount of help with a minimum amount of hassle. The DAP is open to any LGBT person experiencing domestic violence who is living or working in London.
The DAP is made up of 4 LGBT agencies who each provide different services for LGBT victims/survivors of domestic abuse. With one phone call, the service user is linked in with Stonewall Housing, Galop, Switchboard, and London Friend. Everything is confidential, and all our services are provided free of charge. Service Users have access to a range of services including:
- Advice and safety planning
- Housing advice, including options on finding safe accommodation
- Emotional support
- Free one-to-one Counselling
- Support and assistance with dealing with the police
- Help reporting incidents
- Legal advice on civil or criminal protection (e.g., non-molestation orders)
- Support through civil and criminal court system
- Help finding solicitors
- Advice on child safety and child contact issues
- Specific support around sexual abuse
- Translation service available to those who do not have English as a first language.
Galop, is lead partner on the DAP, Nik Noone, Galop’s chief executive said: “I am delighted that London Friend has joined our partnership. They have an established and well respected counselling service that has served LGBT communities well for many years. As the UK’s oldest LGBT service their community links are fantastic, as is their central London counselling space. They are a great addition and I am pleased that our partnership remains a strong and effective source of help for LGBT people facing domestic abuse.”
Monty Moncrieff, London Friend CEO said: “London Friend is really pleased to join the LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership and pick up the counselling service. It adds a further specialism to our work alongside our existing counseling service and Antidote, our drug and alcohol support. At a vulnerable time for LGBT charities we’re happy to be able to collaborate with our partner organisations and ensure services are protected for the people who need to use them.”
Bob Green, Stonewall Housing CEO said: ‘We have been working with London Friend for many years and we are thrilled that they will now be a formal partner of the LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership to provide specialist counseling services, which is vital for many of those who approach us for housing advice’
If you would like to make a referral into the LGBT Domestic Abuse Partnership, call the National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline on: 0300 999 5428 or 0800 9995428 or contact referrals@galop.org.uk for information
