Page 3 - SafeLinkEvaluation

Foreword
I’ve always been clear that protecting the most vulnerable from harm is not something the Police can do alone, it takes collaboration between providers, agencies, their service users and communities.
This report proves that when given the space to collaborate, great things happen.
We are fortunate to have a strong sexual violence sector in Avon and Somerset
and I think that is reflected in the success of both the initial bid to the Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Transformation Fund, and the findings of this report. I was truly delighted that my office was awarded this funding to work with Safe Link and Womankind over the life of the project and am immensely proud to now reflect on its achievements.
This funding provided us with both the challenge and opportunity to do things differently. Faced with ever increasing demand for support this was not simply about service continuity or capacity but transformation, and the findings of this independent evaluation show that we have achieved real change.
Fundamental to this project has been the difference made to the service users directly supported by the ISVA and befriending services. The outcomes and quotes speak for themselves; each one demonstrating truly life changing improvements for victims, their families and communities. Added to this are the systemic changes that the project has achieved by working across sectors to improve the identification and support of victim-survivors with needs linked to mental-ill health and/or
learning disabilities.
Beyond this, I think this report gives many agencies – including the Police – food for thought in terms of how well victims are identified, supported and empowered to live safe and happy lives, free from abuse.
My challenge now to anyone reading this evaluation is to continue to reap the benefits of the Home Office’s investment by learning more, listening to victim- survivors and developing your practices to ensure that we can successfully protect the most vulnerable from harm.
Sue Mountstevens
Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset
1 | Safe Link