We give emotional and practical help to people who have been affected by crime in the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. We’re an independent charity and you can contact us for support regardless of whether you’ve contacted the police, and no matter how long ago the crime took place. We’ll help you for as long as it takes to overcome the impact of crime.
If you call your local Victim Support team in East London, we’ll make sure you get the information and support you need. This might be arranging a meeting for you to talk to us and receive emotional support in confidence, helping you to fill out a compensation form or get advice on how to make your home more secure, or referring you to other specialist organisations that can also help.
As well as offering emotional and practical support to people affected by crime, we run a number of specialist services in East London, including:
Barking and Dagenham Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Service
This service provides short-term support for all victims of domestic violence, including:
- practical advice, information and emotional support
- legal advice on applying for injunctions and information on police procedures
- advice on your legal rights to your home, and help to find somewhere else to live if you want to leave
- help to increase the security of your home through the Sanctuary Project (including lock changes and security measures such as door/window alarms and secure letter boxes)
- referrals to relevant specialists and counselling.
Barking and Dagenham Safer Homes project
This project offers free home security measures (eg door/window alarms and security chains) to anyone within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, whether you have been a victim of crime or not.
IRIS project (Identification & Referral to Improve Safety)
The IRIS project is a domestic violence and abuse (DVA) initiative operating in Tower Hamlets. Our team work in partnership with all GP practices, educating and training the health professionals and staff about DVA, encouraging them to ask their patients about their experience of abuse, and referring to our specialist advocates who can offer individual support and information to those who have past or current experience of abuse from a partner, ex-partner or family member.
Redbridge Antisocial Behaviour (ASB)/Hate Crime project
Our specialist project worker provides advocacy and support to vulnerable victims of ASB and hate crime. They work closely with other voluntary and statutory agencies such as the local authority and the police.
Redbridge Serious Violent Crime project
This service offers one-to-one support to victims of serious violent crime (such as grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Waltham Forest Antisocial Behaviour (ASB)/Hate Crime project
This project offers advocacy and support to victims of ASB and hate crime in Waltham Forest.
Tower Hamlets Serious Violent/Hate Crime project
This services offers support to high-risk victims of serious violent/hate crime.
Tower Hamlets Domestic Violence project
Our independent domestic violence advisors offer one-to-one support and advocacy to high-risk victims of domestic violence and referrals to other specialist agencies eg counselling.
Havering Domestic Violence project
Our Independent Domestic Violence Advisor offers one-to-one support and advocacy to high-risk victims of domestic violence and referrals to other specialist agencies eg counselling.
Havering Domestic Abuse Project for Early Help Service and Troubled Families
This project offers specialist domestic violence support to victims who are working with the local authority Early Help and Troubled Families service. It also offers support and guidance on domestic abuse to staff within this service and partner agencies.
Last year we offered immediate support to over 51,000 people affected by crime in East London, and gave in-depth support to more than 12,000 people.
One of the people we’ve helped to cope after crime is Cara*, a victim of domestic violence.
I experienced domestic violence which affected my whole life, including my family and friends. It wasn’t easy, but I knew there was hope of me fighting this and I am finally much stronger.
Victim Support helped me overcome my fears. My caseworker stuck by me no matter what the situation and made me very comfortable communicating with her about all my experiences.
In such a short amount of time, my caseworker helped me become a stronger individual and made me realise that it’s never too late to change and make things better.
Without my caseworker I wouldn’t have been able to overcome everything and become this strong female.
I feel very healthy and much stronger and I am not afraid about talking about my experience.
*Name changed to protect identity.
