Cumbria Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP)

Founded in 2016 following a successful funding awards from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Cumbria Domestic Abuse Partnership (DAP) funds specialist support to victims (and thier children) within a range of safe accommodation and support - such as refuges, specialist emergency accommodation, and support to remain safely at home within the community (where appropraite to do so) with support to access to additional personal and household security adaptations as appropriate.

Flexible focused specialist support is offered to prevent homelessness and promote wider service reforms to help local areas meet the Priorities for Domestic Abuse as part of the responsibilities under the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

What does the partnership do?

This partnership co-ordinates both preventative and crisis support as well as accommodation services for all victims at risk of homelessness and those identified to be at risk of domestic abuse and all forms of exploitation within Cumbria. This innovative, coordinated support and pathway model of service delivery standardises the approach to meet local needs and agreed standards regardless of location across the county.

How does the partnership do this?

Funding has been used to support the DAP model approach across the county, meeting urban and rural diversified needs through:

Increased access to emergency accommodation units for households in crisis across the county. Mixed provisions are in place to suit a variety of needs and risk levels. i.e. secure provision staffed 24 hours a day, medium to low risk supported and dispersed accommodation; and individual supported units.

This includes out of hours advice, assistance and access to emergency crisis accommodation available throughout the county. Collaborative cross boundary placements appropriate to risk assessed levels and safety plans ensure provision is in place to meet a range of need and demand. This ensures that no victim of domestic abuse is turned away from the support and accommodation they need, at the time they need it.

Specialist officers deliver frontline crisis support to those housed in allocated emergency accommodation, addressing immediate and longer-term needs. Officers work across community partnerships, ensuring access to timely interventions are available to meet personalised and wider, complex needs.

Specialist officers provide advice and information on housing options; identifying harm minimisation solutions and safety planning with partner agencies; enabling households to remain in their own homes safely as appropraite.

Practical assistance is delivered with a focus on stable housing, risk reduction and safeguarding. In Carlisle, this is enhanced through officer access to small, discretionary personalised safety grants of up to £500 administered by Carlisle City Council. This funding is intended to enhance the support offer and reduce identified risks to those receiving support within emergency accommodation placements through personal and community safety measures developed to prevent future housing issues.

Supporting Partners

The Cumbrian Consortium, supported by Cumbria Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is made of the following partners: Allerdale Borough Council; Barrow Borough Council; Barrow Women’s Community Matters; Carlisle City Council; Copeland Borough Council; Cumbria County Council; Eden District Council; Eden Housing Association and South Lakeland District Council.

The partnership works closely with all key partners in Cumbria and contributes towards the priorities outlined by Safer Cumbria, overseen by the Strategy Domestic Abuse Board.

Support is available in the following areas:

Other Key Contacts