Resources: Victims of Crime

Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services offer a free and confidential support service to victims of hate crime, including emotional support, support through the legal process, and support making complaints.

Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services Partnership website

Bristol Law Centre is a charity providing free information and legal advice on specialist areas of social welfare law to people who could not otherwise afford access to justice, as well as representing these clients in court.

Bristol Law Centre website

Galop are a LGBTQIA+ anti-abuse charity, providing support to LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. They provide helplines, advocacy, online support communities, and dedicated services for LGBTQIA+ children and young people.

Galop website

Resolve West is an independent, charitable organisation with over 30 years’ experience of providing a confidential service to people experiencing conflict or crime. Their expertise is in helping individuals and communities to resolve their differences,with services offered to those living in Bristol and the surrounding areas of Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

Resolve West is also one of the organisations involved in the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service.

Resolve West website

Safe Link provides independent support for anyone – of any gender or age – who has been the victim of rape or sexual abuse, across the whole of Avon and Somerset. You do not need to have reported to the police to access these services.

Safe Link website

SurvivorsUK provide a national online helpline, individual and group counselling for boys, men, and non-binary people aged 13+ who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. They also offer emotional support to men going through the justice system in relation to experiencing sexual violence.

SurvivorsUK website

SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) offer a range of advocacy services in Bristol:

• VOCAS (Victims of Crime Advocacy Service), allowing adult victims of crime to access advocacy and practical and emotional support to cope, recover, and engage with the criminal justice system.
• Independent Care Act Advocacy, for individuals with a substantial difficulty going through a care act process without an appropriate person they would like to support them.
• Independent Mental Health Act Advocacy (IMHA), providing advocacy to individuals under the Mental Health Act
• Independent Mental Capacity Act Advocacy (IMCA), providing advocacy to vulnerable adults who lack the ability to make important decisions and do not have family or friends to help them.

SWAN advocacy – Bristol Services website

SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) offer a range of advocacy services in South Gloucestershire:

• VOCAS (Victims of Crime Advocacy Service), allowing adult victims of crime to access advocacy and practical and emotional support to cope, recover, and engage with the criminal justice system.
• Independent Care Act Advocacy, for individuals with a substantial difficulty going through a care act process without an appropriate person they would like to support them.
• Independent Mental Health Act Advocacy (IMHA), providing advocacy to individuals under the Mental Health Act
• Independent Mental Capacity Act Advocacy (IMCA), providing advocacy to vulnerable adults who lack the ability to make important decisions and do not have family or friends to help them.
• Generic Advocacy, issue-based and time limited advocacy for adults.

SWAN Advocacy – South Gloucestershire Services website

The Bridge is a Sexual Assault Referral Centre, offering medical care, emotional and psychological support, and practical help to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted.

The Bridge website

Victim Support offer free, independent, and confidential advice and support to anyone who has been affected by crime, including a 24-hour helpline, and advocacy for victims of domestic abuse.

Victim Support website