Camden domestic abuse support service achieves national recognition
Council's service is the only local authority-run service in London to be accredited
Camden Council’s domestic violence and abuse support service, Camden Safety Net, has been accredited for a second time with the Safelives Leading Lights status. This status is the mark of quality for domestic abuse services and is increasingly being recognised by commissioners and funders across the UK, providing an effective benchmark for supporting victims of severe domestic abuse. The status ensures that people receive the same level of service, regardless of where they are in the country.
Campaigning to raise awareness
The team at Camden Safety Net work with men and women across the borough who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse and/or sexual violence. With a continued commitment to supporting residents affected by domestic abuse, Camden Council have produced a series of campaigns, which have been highly successful in raising awareness of the service and in encouraging people to seek support.
The current campaign in the award-winning ‘Know’ series, Know you’re not alone, highlights the diversity of both what domestic abuse can look like and who experiences it. The message is that domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality and gender identity.
The Council also work closely with local organisations, including Solace Women’s Aid, Age UK, Bengali women’s charity Hopscotch, London-wide LGBT charity Galop and Camden LGBT Forum, to ensure that residents get the highest standard of care.
Jane*, an ex-service user of Camden Safety Net explains: “Camden Safety Net has helped me in a way I would never have expected. Speaking to someone who was compassionate helped me in a very difficult life situation. Thanks to the service I can now have a safe and peaceful life. Thank you.”
Commitment to tackling domestic abuse
Councillor Jonathan Simpson, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Camden Council, said:
“Tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence remains a high priority for the London Borough of Camden, and our commitment to this is demonstrated by the increase in investment this important area of work is receiving. Having retained the Leading Lights accreditation, Camden Safety Net continues to deliver a high quality service that makes people safer.”
Leading Light accreditations
Camden Safety Net is one of only six local authority organisations in the UK to be accredited, and one of five domestic abuse services in London with this quality mark. There are forty other domestic abuse services in the UK who currently have this accreditation.
Accreditations are reviewed every four years and, after being awarded the status in 2011, Camden Safety Net has again demonstrated its continued commitment to good practice across all areas of its service delivery, including multi-agency working and frontline delivery. Services were re-evaluated by a national external accreditation panel, comprising of domestic abuse sector and quality assurance professionals.
More information
You can find out more about Camden Safety Net and about the 'Know' series of campaigns at camden.gov.uk/know
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or know someone who is, contact Camden Safety Net on 020 7974 2526 or email [email protected]