Save Worcestershire's 1:1 Domestic Abuse Service

**Every £1 donated will be matchfunded by the Aviva Community Fund up to a value of £250 (this applies to your first donation only)**

Think of your closest family members. Do you have a partner or a sibling? An ex-partner? A husband or wife? Do you co-parent with somebody? 

Now imagine that person is your abuser.

• West Mercia police estimate that there are 22,000 incidents of domestic abuse in Worcestershire every year. 
• 95% of victims are likely to experience financial coercive control by a partner.
• Just £500 can help support an individual or family to live free from abuse.

What is The DAWN Project?

DAWN is a confidential, non-judgmental, free support service for any individuals aged 16+ who live in South Worcestershire and are experiencing, or have experienced, domestic abuse.

This may include controlling, coercive, manipulating, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour. 

Domestic abuse can often include financial coercive control, where a perpetrator is controlling a client’s ability to get, use or keep money or economic resources.

DAWN is a face to face, 1-1 and community-based support service in Worcestershire, providing targeted specialist domestic abuse support. It is a truly unique and life changing service.

Why are we crowdfunding?

From 31st March 2025, DAWN will be in receipt of significantly less funding than it has been for the past four years. The level of support we can offer will be reduced which means increases in waiting times, escalation in risk of those waiting, and a reduction in the number of victims and survivors we can support.   

We are doing everything we can to secure the future of DAWN including working with local MPs to appeal for changes in the way community-based domestic abuse services are funded across the UK, and working with our current funders to secure new funding.

This Crowdfunder will help DAWN to continue it's vital work until more sustainable funding can be obtained. 

What support does DAWN offer?

Support can include: 

• Safety planning & personalised action plans 
• Support in accessing housing, benefits advice, debt advice and legal services
• Support in regaining financial independence and the journey to well-being
• Support at criminal and family courts
• Support with reporting incidents to the Police
• Support with social care 
• Support in accessing other services 
• Referrals to specialist counselling services 
• Help with understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on the family 
• Individual face-to-face support and group work sessions aimed at building confidence and self esteem 

Through the Freedom Programme, either in a group setting or one to one, DAWN also helps victims and survivors understand the complex dynamics of domestic abuse. It explores healthy relationships and characteristics of safe, decent partners or prospective partners to give clients the tools to see red flags early on and make safe choices for themselves and children. 

How DAWN supports victims of financial abuse, allowing them to become more financially resilient and independent.

Domestic Abuse can often include financial coercive control, where a perpetrator is controlling a individual's ability to get, use or keep money or economic resources. This includes monitoring spending and not letting a partner choose how to spend their own money, forcing purchases or signing of contracts, creating debts in a partner’s name, stopping a partner from accessing their bank accounts, making a partner give them their account details, even making it hard for a partner to get or keep a job.

DAWN is a service which helps individuals to spot the signs of this kind of control, which can be subtle and gradual. We help individuals to safely regain control of their financial situations and give them the tools to have more economic independence and financial resilience. This includes referrals to debt and welfare support, either within Worcester Community Trust’s services or to partnership services like Citizen’s Advice. DAWN also provides support in court, to obtain legal help and to fill in application forms pertaining to the eventual reinstatement of financial control and consequent well-being.

Who is affected by domestic abuse?

This issue is relevant to every section of society. Abuse is happening right now to people you may know. It may be a parent at your child’s school, a colleague in your workplace. Somebody who works in your local supermarket or doctors’ surgery. Your hairdresser. A family member. An elderly neighbour. A friend.

We are incredibly grateful for any support you can give. Please take a look at the amazing selection of rewards on offer in exchange for your kind donations.