The DVAP adults service

If you are aged 16 or over, our Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership (DVAP) adults service can provide both emotional and practical support with:

• personal safety
• housing options
• making your home safe and secure
• understanding your legal options
• welfare benefits and finances
• child protection issues and appropriate child-related services
• access to appropriate medical assistance
• recovery group programmes.

These can all be built into a personal support plan.

If you are aged 16 or younger, please see our support for children and young people information.

You can access the DVAP service by calling us, visiting a customer service centre, or by completing a self-referral form.

Contact us

Many people find the easiest way to contact us is via telephone. We have taken thousands of calls from people who:

• feel nervous about calling
• are not sure what to say
• are frightened they will not be believed.

When you ring DVAP your call will be answered by an experienced and qualified member of staff who will take you seriously, listen without judgement and try to help you in the best possible way.

We are available to take calls Monday to Thursday, 9am - 5pm, and Friday 9am - 4.30pm.

If it’s busy when you call, please leave a message on the answerphone and we will get back to you as soon as possible. The answerphone service is available 3pm to 10am, every day including bank holidays. Only the DVAP service can access the messages.

Understanding abuse

If you are not sure that what you are experiencing, or witnessing, is domestic abuse, our what is domestic abuse page explains the kinds of behaviours and actions that are considered abusive.

Group sessions

Group sessions are held at various locations, including Bridlington, Beverley, and Goole. If needed, sessions can sometimes be held in other locations. You must have been referred to the DVAP service, either by yourself or a professional such as a GP or social worker, to take part in these groups.

RISE programme

The RISE programme aims to inform and empower survivors and provide them with the tools to better understand domestic abuse and its effects. It is for female survivors of domestic abuse who are:

• very recently separated, or
• considering leaving their abuser (whether this is, or was, a partner or family member). 

It consists of an eight-week rolling programme providing information, support and guidance. Each session will last about 2 hours. The course covers:

• why anyone can be abused
• understanding the dynamics of domestic abuse
• the cycle of coercive control
• the mind and body in abuse
• de-bunking myths
• building bonds (with DVAP children’s service)
• exploring feelings and understanding the beliefs of an abuser
• safety
• Positive Choices

Rockpool programme

The Rock Pool Recovery Toolkit is a 12-week programme. It creates a safe space enabling participants to feel comfortable to share their experiences together and work towards recovery. It covers the topics such as:

• what is abuse?
• self-esteem
• coping and the consequences of toxic stress
• effects on children and parenting
• positive self-talk
• assertiveness
• boundaries and staying safe
• healthy relationships.

Personal safety

Once you have asked for help we can put safety measures in place so you can stay in, or return to, your own house. Safety measures may include:

• alarms and locks
• fire checks
• personal alarms

We can also help you explore your housing options and help you to leave an abusive relationship. This could include helping you to flee to safe accommodation in the East Riding or, in some circumstances, out of the area.

Supporting services

We can provide emotional and practical advice, and suggestions to help your situation or improve your safety, to support, and empower you. Depending on your specific situation, we will also contact other council services, and external agencies, to provide help with welfare benefits, legal advice, housing options, staying safely at home, or any other related issue. 

We have a directory of external services, agencies, and charities that can provide further support or help with specific issues, such as financial and legal matters.