East Cambridgeshire District Council is leading the way when it comes to supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation – which is the benchmark in the UK for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse to deliver safe and effective responses and support – has recognised the council with the Gold standard of service.

Sarah Burton, Housing Options Team Leader and DAHA lead, explains: “The accreditation recognises the work our team does in supporting domestic abuse victims and survivors. It involved looking at priority areas of the council’s operations to deliver safe and effective interventions.

“Our commitment means that every person who works at the council, from reception staff and waste collectors through to office staff and our parks and open spaces team, has received domestic abuse training, so we are prepared and able to support someone when they feel able to approach us.”

To reach the Gold standard, local authorities and housing providers must demonstrate excellence across areas including survivor-led support, robust policies and procedures, strong partnerships, comprehensive employee training, safety-led case management and clear accountability for perpetrators.

Cllr Anna Bailey, Leader of the council, adds: “Achieving the Gold standard with our re-accreditation demonstrates our commitment is embedded across our whole organisation. It means that our policies, processes and day-to-day practices meet the highest national standards for responding to domestic abuse.  

“We are here to provide support for residents at every step of the journey away from domestic abuse and I would encourage anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse to reach out to the council, we will work with you to find the best solution.”

The council offices are open Monday to Thursday, 8.45am to 5pm and Fridays 8.45am to 4.30pm. You can also call 01353 665555.

More information on domestic abuse support can be found on our Domestic Abuse webpage.