Supporting people in Avon and Somerset affected by crime

The impact on a victim and their family can be huge affecting them financially, emotionally, physically and psychologically.

Victim Support - What we do

• We offer a free and confidential service to victims of crime, their family, friends and anyone else affected.
• We support people from all communities, whatever crime they have suffered, whenever it happened, even when they have felt unable to report it to the police.
• We give information and practical help for as long as it takes for the victim(s) to find the strength to move on with their lives.
• We help people make sense of how a crime has made them think, feel and act and support them to move forward with their lives.

The Benefits for Local Communities

• Our team of skilled caseworkers, staff and volunteers live across the Avon and Somerset area.
• The high quality of our staff and volunteer training and the skills with which we equip them develops your communities and has a positive local impact beyond the Criminal Justice System.
• With their help victims of crime in Avon and Somerset are better able to recover and move on with their lives.
• We can help reduce the harm that crime does to people in Avon and Somerset.

What victims say about Victim Support

Here is just a small selection of the feedback we receive:

• “She was amazing, so kind and warm. I felt she understood, she sent lots of things to help me such as sending me security items to help me feel safe. She was nice to talk to.”
• “I don’t think I would be where I am today if I didn’t have you and the peer group, it’s so good to have people who don’t judge you. I would recommend it if anyone needed support, especially if they haven’t told any friends or family.”
• “She was really great, it was life changing. Almost because I had long held believes, she would give an alternative view which changed my thinking. She put suggestions forward and was always looking to push forward not back, a very positive mind-set.”
• “She was really good at listening and understanding. She helped when I was confused to process everything, it was helpful when I was in the process of receiving counselling. She also helped me understand my case better within the CJS and the legal side of it.”

How your donation will be spent

Every contribution to the work that we do can make a big difference. For example:

• £50 could pay for us to give 5 burglary victims information about securing their home in the future.
• £75 could pay for a video doorbell to help a victim of harassment secure their home
• £250 could help meet the cost of 5 volunteer’s expenses while they support a victim of domestic violence.
• £500 could help us give ongoing support to a family recently bereaved due to a violent crime.
• £250 could pay for 15 volunteers to receive one day training on serious crime.

No matter how big or small your donation, it will make a real difference to us in our work with victims and young witnesses.

If you would like to read more about Victim Support you can find details on our website: www.victimsupport.org.uk