Release: Specialist domestic abuse service to launch in Dorset
Victim Support will open a new specialist domestic abuse service in Dorset in July 2026, funded by Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick. This pioneering service means high-risk victims in the county will be supported by an independent specialist organisation, ensuring safe, expert help and support for those who need it.
The new Dorset service will be delivered by a dedicated team of Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) offering confidential, trauma-informed support to victim-survivors. Support includes one-to-one casework, risk management and personalised safety planning, alongside access to Victim Support’s 24/7 Live Chat, Supportline, and digital platform My Support Space.
Victim Support will also provide specialist staff for children and young people, older victims, and those who have experienced stalking.
Support will be available to all high-risk victim-survivors of domestic abuse, regardless of when the abuse occurred or whether they have reported to the police. People can self-refer directly and book support sessions discreetly and conveniently through a secure online portal.
The announcement comes during NO MORE week – a global initiative highlighting the need to end domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “I am pleased to award this contract to Victim Support, building upon our already strong and effective partnership delivering vital services for victims of crime across Dorset.
“Domestic abuse can have a profound and lasting impact. Victims must be able to access trauma-informed support which not only safeguards them in moments of crisis but helps them rebuild their lives with confidence and dignity, and I believe that is what this new independent service will provide.
“Victim-survivors deserve to feel safe, heard and believed. This service strengthens my commitment to protecting the most vulnerable, ensuring no victim in Dorset faces abuse alone.”
Rebecca Chaplain, Dorset Area Manager for Victim Support, said: “We are incredibly proud to bring this specialist service to Dorset. Every victim-survivor deserves to feel safe, heard and supported, and this new service will ensure they have independent experts by their side when they need it most. We look forward to working with partners and communities across Dorset to establish this new service and place survivors’ needs, safety and choices at its heart.”
The new service will work in close collaboration with other local domestic abuse providers such as Paragon and BCHA, who deliver support for victim-survivors not assessed as high-risk. This partnership work will ensure smooth continuity of care when an individual’s risk stabilises or reduces — without the need for them to retell their story.
It will also operate within the Pathfinder Court initiative, which aims to make family court cases quicker, safer, and less adversarial for families affected by domestic abuse.