"...We thank our partner agencies, individuals and friends who help ADVANCE regularly in order to continue to do the work we do for women..."

ADVANCE is supported by a multitude of partner agencies across all sectors. These partners support us in a variety of ways. Some commission us and contribute to the funding of the service with contracts and grant, whilst others offer their staff and other resources to support service delivery.

ADVANCE was significantly involved in the development of CAADA (Coordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse), and the first accredited training programme for advocacy in the country. We were given this accreditation “Leading Lights” in 2010.

CAADA have now achieved their own national status, delivering services and accredited training to IDVA’s in advocacy projects and their multi-agency partners. ADVANCE continues to work with CAADA piloting the first national advocacy service standards, evaluating advocacy and further developing the advocacy database MODUS. CAADA define IDVAs as ‘trained specialists whose goal is the safety of survivors.’

ADVANCE is part of the wider coordinated community response in Hammersmith & Fulham, and works very closely with Standing Together Against Domestic Violence. Standing Together is a nationally recognised organisation that coordinates the response to domestic violence in Hammersmith & Fulham.

They also consult and share their work nationally. The main focus of the work is to coordinate the Criminal Justice response through their role in the Specialist Domestic Violence Court (SDVC), providing training to a range of agencies. They coordinate a health project within A&E and local walk-in surgeries to provide screening for domestic violence to patients.

Standing Together works with its partners to join up, improve and systematise the service delivery to survivors in the borough. ADVANCE works in partnership with Standing Together to ensure that any new development is backed by our advocacy service. We contribute to their delivery and commissioning of domestic violence awareness training.

ADVANCE Minerva in particular works closely with London Probation in Hammersmith and Fulham and Brent. Women who need extra support in order to be diverted from the Criminal Justice System are automatically referred to us. This partnership works particularly well in supporting women with multiple and complex needs to reduce and prevent reoffending.

In all 4 boroughs in which we are delivering services we have excellent relationships with the Police. This means that women referred who are at the highest risk are contacted quickly and supported so that the Police can pursue the case knowing that ADVANCE are focussing on the women’s needs and safety.