ABOUT US

LDAS is a community-based organisation that specialises in the support of women and girls who have experienced domestic abuse to live safe and independent lives

you are not alone, LDAS are here to support you.

we deliver support across all areas of Liverpool.

Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) was founded in 2004 by CEO Paula Nolan in response to the growing number of women and girls who accessed the Health Energy Advice Team (HEAT) who identified domestic abuse as a factor in their support need.

Paula quickly identified a service which specialised in the support of women and girls whose lives were being impacted by domestic abuse. This was desperately needed in the Kensington area of Liverpool. LDAS was developed to provide advice, support, advocacy, therapeutic and practical help to women and girls. By presenting options and choices to victims and survivors of domestic abuse we can support them to a life free from abuse.

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USEFUL CONTACTS

Domestic abuse is physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. This can include forced marriage, so-called ‘honour’ crimes and female genital mutilation. Domestic abuse may include a range of behaviours, not all of which are in themselves inherently ‘violent’.

how we work.

to support victims & survivors.

Everyone at LDAS is proud to be part of our specialist organisation committed to delivering high quality support to victims and survivors. We believe that everyone has the right to a life free from abuse and violence and this ethos underpins our work and our approach to safeguarding.

From many years’ experience we know that specialist services offer the best support for victims and survivors and that many people are reluctant to come forward and seek help from statutory or general services.

All our services have been developed in consultation with the people who use them and with our partner agencies.

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our core values.

run through the work we do.

We will never tell people what they should do, we respect a persons’ right to make their own decisions

We offer non-judgemental support through both our individual programmes and group work

We empower women to make their own choices and to determine their own future

We are compassionate, determined, inclusive, courageous and respectful

We believe in strong and independent advocacy on behalf of those we support and have a record of local and national advocacy to implement change and to achieve best outcomes and response for our victims and survivors.

who we are.

the special people who make LDAS.

Everyone involved with LDAS is proud to be part of our forward thinking, specialist charity. As we have grown, our team of staff, volunteers, LDAS survivor panel membership and trustees have with us. Many of our volunteers have found successful employment with the organisation or within our partnership network.

We are committed to training staff to the highest standard and all our adult support workers are fully Safe Lives accredited IDVAs or ISVAs. Our management team have many years of relevant experience in management roles, finance, social care, criminal justice and the charitable sector. They all bring a variety of skills in addition to their IDVA qualifications which include qualifications and experience in health, policing, social care, welfare rights and housing to name a few.

Volunteers are offered excellent induction training and on-site support and can support our group-based programme delivery positively impacting the lives of hundreds so survivors of domestic abuse.

Our brilliant survivor panel is made up of many ex-service users who are dedicated to raising awareness about the charity and encouraging others to come forward for support. They identify good practice and areas of improvement within LDAS but also influence local and national responses to domestic abuse. Their lived experience is key to making sure we deliver all our support in way that meets the changing needs of our survivors, which is critical.

As a charity, the work of LDAS is overseen by a Trustee Board which comprises skilled and knowledgeable people recruited from a wide range of backgrounds including the law, Welfare Rights, Training, Social Care and Finance.

Paula CEO

Paula has worked in the voluntary sector for over 25 years and is an experienced, manager, CEO and bid writer. Paula’s experience encompasses frontline delivery, and operational and strategic management. Paula has a wealth of experience in developing innovative projects and services and supported the development of Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service in 2006 under the charitable umbrella of HEAT. In 2020 Paula supported LDAS transition to become a stand-alone independent charity in its own right and now provides the new charity with managerial and fundraising activity to ensure this specialist work continues. Paula is passionate about working in environments that empower women, channelling her skills to assist in creating a society free from violence and abuse against women and girls.

Paula is supported by a team of diverse staff who make sure the service is developed and shapes local and national policy.

Rachel Flood (Trustee Board Member & Chairperson)

Having worked in local government for over 15 years, Rachel took the step to establishing her own training and consultancy firm in 2012. Since then, she has worked for numerous clients including local authorities in Doncaster, Liverpool, Cheshire West, and Warrington, as well as housing providers such as Torus, Regenda and First Choice Homes Oldham.

In addition, Rachel has worked with a number of private and voluntary organisations including Liverpool Football Club, Seashell Trust, the Daniel Fox Foundation, and the Royal Voluntary Service. Commissions have included designing and delivering bespoke training programmes, workforce development strategies, team away days, bid writing, evaluation of projects and programmes, community engagement and consultation, and impact evaluation activities.

Rachel has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Liverpool and has supported the work of LDAS for many years as she feels strongly about giving back to her community and supporting women who are experiencing abuse, disadvantage, and hardship.

Caryn Matthews (Trustee Board Member & Treasurer)

Caryn has worked in the voluntary sector managing a charity (South Liverpool Citizen’s Advice Bureau) for over 20 years and is an experienced CEO, manager, bid writer and trainer. Caryn also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Business and is a published author in Health Research and Impact of poverty in communities.

Caryn has the technical skills required to support HEAT in making important financial decisions and experience of developing numerous projects and services. Caryn understands and can support the charity’s development going forward and has experience of establishing and managing strategic partnerships with both the statutory and private sector building excellent working relationships and funding streams to benefit communities suffering from both social and economic deprivation.

Kate Friday (Trustee Board Member)

Kate has walked in the footsteps of our service users and understands the complexities and input needed to support women with the trauma they have experienced. Kate has been a volunteer with LDAS and is a trained Freedom Programme Facilitator.

Kate recently obtained a first class honours degree at Liverpool Hope University and is now undertaking a postgraduate course in Psychological Treatment. Kate is now working for a local Liverpool Charity supporting children and young people to improve their mental health.

Sue Branch (Trustee Board Member)

Sue is a registered qualified social worker of 35 years experience of working with families. She has worked in the statutory, voluntary and private sector both as a manager and practitioner and as an Ofsted registered Responsible Individual. She is also a practice teacher for BAME social work students.

Sue has extensive experience of writing and implementing policies, procedures and protocols and quality assuring services to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Sue has worked with children and their families, young adults with learning disabilities and most recently in the adoption field, working with birth parents whose children are put up for adoption.

Lucille Harvey (Trustee Board Member)

After graduating Lucille moved to London to work in parliament for Labour MPs. Firstly working as a Caseworker before moving into research and policy. During this time she was also Branch Secretary for the trade union branch representing MPs staff on issues such as bullying and sexual harassment.

Following parliament, Lucille spent time in New Zealand working in the Ministry for the Environment. She then returned home to Liverpool working as a Trade Union Organiser campaigning for better pay and conditions for low paid women workers. Lucille is currently a Labour councillor for Princes Park ward in Liverpool and works for a national charity to improve social and economic deprivation.

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