Domestic abuse

At PCH we will:  

• never tell anyone your personal details without your permission
• offer support and advice
• offer same gender or safe place interviews
• discuss organisations that provide long-term support if and when you may require it
• be sensitive and understanding when discussing your housing options
• react quickly and effectively to make sure you are safe
• take relevant action against those who are responsible for domestic abuse using the conditions of our tenancy agreements
• give you advice and practicable help with your tenancy and other issues
• provide additional security measures to your property if you need them or if it is appropriate to do so

If you need to be rehoused away from the person who is abusing you, we can give you housing advice or discuss alternative safe accommodation.

If you are homeless, or worried that you may become homeless due to domestic abuse, you can get urgent advice and help from the Housing Department of your Local Authority who will assess your situation and let you know how to help and what your rights are.

All Local Authorities have a 24-hour telephone service for people in emergency situations.

We can help you with options to stay and be safe.

For advice about your tenancy, you may need to seek separate legal advice.

We will never inform the person responsible that we have spoken to you.

As your safety is our main concern, we will also not take any action against this person without speaking to you first.

There are support networks available to help people change their behaviour:

• visit the Respect website
• visit the Ahimsa website
• visit the FearFree website

The Brightsky app will help you find domestic abuse services.

• Plymouth Domestic Abuse Services (PDAS) - Provides practical, non-judgemental support, advice and protection for all victims of domestic abuse - 0800 458 2558

• Trevi Women - Trevi is a local charity who run three centres in the city, and they are the lead partner for the Southwest Women’s Spark Project which aims to prevent women with multiple disadvantages, being affected by violence and abuse; ultimately achieving a better-quality of life. They also run the Pause Plymouth practice, supporting hard-to-reach women who have had two or more children removed – cited as the most successful Pause practice in the country - 01752 977614

• First Light (for sexual assaults) - Sexual Violence Therapy & Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) for Devon and Cornwall to support people who have experienced a recent or historic rape or serious sexual assault and have reported it to the police, or look at options available if it has not been reported - 0300 777 4777

• SARC - The Devon & Cornwall SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) - Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support. They have specially trained NHS doctors, nurses and support workers to care for you - 0300 3034626

• Devon's domestic abuse helpline - 0345 155 1074

• FearFree Devon - Provides 1-to-1 victim support for adults and children in Devon with experience of domestic abuse, as well as 1-to-1 support for perpetrators and provides support for children and young people - 0345 155 1074

• The Olive Project - Providing specialist support to black and minoritised victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence - 07990 858510

• Cornwall Refuge Trust - Provides refuge accommodation for women, men and children who have escaped domestic abuse, offering them a safe and supportive environment in which to recover from their experiences - 01872 225629

• Cornwall Safer Futures - Supporting children, young people and families who have experienced domestic abuse and sexual violence - 0300 777 4 777

• Rape crisis helpline - 0808 802 9999

• Waves Counselling Project - Offer a confidential counselling and outreach service if you have experienced any form of domestic abuse or family violence, this service may be for you. They aim to make the service available to anyone who does not usually have access to therapy, such as people on low incomes, young people, disabled peoples, woman, men, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and the transgender community (LGBT+) - 07815 136743

• Intercom Trust - The Intercom Trust are a community-led charity that aims to build a South West region where people are treated with respect, celebrated and where vibrant LGBT+ communities live with real equality - Plymouth Office (01752 220588) , Truro Office (01872 270044) and Exeter Office (01392 201015).

• Livewell Southwest - Livewell Southwest is an independent, award winning social enterprise providing integrated health and social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon and Cornwall - 01752 435502

The Brightsky app will help you find domestic abuse services.

• The National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247
• Women’s Aid - 0808 2000 247
• Jewish Women's Aid - 0808 801 0500
• Muslim Women's Network - 0800 999 5786
• Sikh Women's Aid - 0333 090 1220
• Galop - National LGBT+ Domestic Violence Helpline - 0800 999 5428
• Men's Advice Line - 0808 801 0327
• Respect - 0808 8024040 
• Victim Support - 0808 168 9111
• SignHealth - 078600 33214 (text)
• ManKind - 0808 800 1170 
• The Survivors Trust - 0808 801 0818
• Southall Black Sisters - 0208 571 0800
• Karma Nirvana - 0800 5999 247
• Hourglass - 0808 808 8141

In an emergency always call 999.

If you’re worried that someone may see what you have been looking at online there’s a few things you can do to minimise the chances of them finding out, like deleting your browser history.

Please remember that although clearing your history minimises the chances of someone knowing what websites you have visited, there is other means of finding this out if you know how.

The safest way to access sites if you want to be completely sure of not being tracked online, is to use a computer at a local library, an internet cafe, a friend's house or at work.