Our Services

Staying Put is part of the Bradford Survive & Thrive Consortium which has been formed to transform the lives of women, men and children who are affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

A range of gender-sensitive Domestic Abuse community services are currently provided by Staying Put.

• Freephone Helpline
• Independent Support for Survivors
• Accommodation
• Support to live independently
• Recovery and Resilience
• Affordable Legal Services
• Male Victim Support
• Panic alarms and lock changes
• The Freedom Programme

We can help you in the following ways:

• Support you to explore your options  
• Provide emotional support - short and long term
• Secure your home - lock changes/panic alarms
• Assist with rehousing in our emergency/refuge or dispersed accommodation
• Signpost counselling referrals 
• Assist in civil and criminal law options 
• Arrange and accompany you to solicitor appointments and to court
• Clarify bail conditions
• Provide support to attend court for Child Residency, Prohibited Steps Orders and CAFCASS hearings
• Provide ‘Self Rep’ packs for DIY injunctions
• Develop links with legal professionals
• Provide ongoing information regarding case progression with victim support, solicitors, court security, police, probation

What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is a crime. We all have a role to play in bringing domestic abuse to an end.

Domestic abuse is the systematic pattern of behaviour on the part of the abuser designed to control their partner.

The abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, financial or sexual. Anyone forced to alter their behaviour because they are frightened of their partner’s reaction is being abused. It can begin at any stage of the relationship. 

Domestic Abuse is rarely a one-off incident and should be seen as a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour through which the abuser seeks power over their victim. It occurs across the whole of society, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, class, or lifestyle and income. Research and government policy recognise that domestic violence is gendered; that is, most perpetrators are male and most victims are female.  As well, the gender of both victim and perpetrator influences behaviour and the severity of risk and harm caused. 

What is Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse is sexual behaviour or a sexual act forced upon a woman, man or child without their consent. Sexual abuse includes abuse of a woman, man or child by a man, woman or child.

Sexual abuse is an act of violence, which the attacker uses against someone they perceive as weaker than them. It does not come from an uncontrollable sex drive, but is a crime committed deliberately with the goal of controlling and humiliating the victim.

Most victims of sexual violence are women – a fact that reflects their social stance even today, in the 21st century, as inferior to men. Sexual violence is another means of oppressing women in a patriarchal society.

Sexual violence is a social phenomenon that exists in every society that accepts aggressive behaviour and gender inequality. The statistics show that 1 in 3 women will be sexually abused during their lifetime.

Types of Sexual Assault

• Sexual assault – a term including all sexual offences. Any action or statement with a sexual nature and done without consent from both sides.
• Rape – insertion of a bodily organ or an object into the sex organ of a woman without her consent.
• Sodomy – insertion of a bodily organ or an object into a person's anus or mouth without their consent.
• Attempted rape – attempted insertion of a bodily organ or an object into the sex organ of a woman without her consent.
• Gang rape – rape carried out by more than one attacker.
• Serial rape – repeated incidents of rape carried out by the same attacker over an extended period of time.
• Incest – Sexual abuse or assault at the hands of a family member.
• For full legal definitions of types of sexual assault, see the penal code from 1977

Types of Sexual Harassment

• Extortion when the act the person required to perform is of a sexual nature.
• An indecent act, i.e. an act performed to cause humiliation, stimulation or sexual satisfaction.
• Repeated propositions that are of a sexual nature addressed to a person who has previously demonstrated to the harasser that they are not interested in said propositions.
• Repeated remarks relating to the person's sexuality when that person has already shown the harasser that they are not interested in said remarks.
• Degrading or humiliating remarks relating to a person's sex or sexuality, including their sexual orientation.
• Publishing a picture, video or recording of someone focusing on their sexuality for the purpose of humiliating or degrading the person without their consent.
• Propositions or remarks of a sexual nature when the harasser is aware that their target is not interested due to circumstances of exploiting a working relationship, dependency and other services.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

In every workplace that employs more than ten workers, the employer by law is responsible for the prevention of sexual harassment. If there were incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace or maltreatment in connection to sexual harassment, you may turn to your supervisor and submit a report, which will be handled through disciplinary action according to your workplace's policies regarding sexual harassment.

You may, instead or in addition, file a report with the police or take civil action.