Get Informed

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law)

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme enables the police to share information with you about an individual’s previous offending, specifically violent and/or abusive offences.

The scheme which is also known as Clare’s Law was named after Clare Wood who was murdered in Manchester in 2009 by her ex-boyfriend.

The aim of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme is to protect a partner or ex-partner from being a victim of abuse.

For more information about the scheme and to request information under Clare’s Law in Dorset, you can visit Request information under Clare’s Law: Make a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) application | Dorset Police

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (Sarah’s Law)

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is a scheme which enables the police to tell parents, carers, and guardians if someone has a record for child sexual offences.

The scheme which is also known as Sarah’s Law was named after Sarah Payne who was eight years old when she was murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2000.

The aim of the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is to keep children safe.

For more information about the scheme and to request information under Sarah’s Law in Dorset, you can visit Sarah’s Law (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme) | Dorset Police

Sexual Violence Awareness Week - in the Bournemouth Echo

STARS conducted a series of activities during Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week to increase access to support and education. We engaged in “street chalking” in Poole town centre, where members of the Youth Parliament shared experiences of sexual harassment.

Events at Bournemouth University allowed students to ask shame-free questions, particularly focusing on topics like sexual choking, asphyxiation, kink, and BDSM. Games were used to facilitate open discussions.

STARS also hosted the Let’s Talk Pants campaign in The Dolphine Centre, Pool to teach children how to stay safe. Adults were asked to share what advice they would give to their younger self, so STARS can bring further support to the community. The charity plans to continue community events, with support from local organizations like The Dolphine Centre, Pool which hosted their activities.

Client feedback

“Thank you and your sensational Maddy for the most heart healing counselling. As my therapist she has fitted like a glove, understanding me and the ability to read between the lines and bring the positive to the surface giving me new tools in which to actually live and build my future life. I would also wholeheartedly like to thank Alison for everything so far. She has most certainly been on the receiving end of me at my worst and has stoically led me to safety. I can’t thank her enough for that awful Tuesday. You are all shining STARS and I have been given tools in which to function and I thank you sincerely!”

“I wanted to email you and say a HUGE thank you. Our sessions seemed to flyby every time we sat down together and talked. It was like a click of a finger and we were done for another week. This engagement really helped me go deep into myself to be able to begin the healing process. I think that your skills are unbelievable. The way you can listen, interpret the information and offer it back in a different way, really made me understand myself differently and at a much deeper level. You have this sense of calmness and nurturing energy and you pay so much attention to detail and could recall conversations we had weeks ago and relate them to conversations that I had not linked. That means to me that you really cared about helping me. You must make amazing notes and take your time to read them before sessions to be able to help me the way you did. I know I am not your only client so this level of attention really made me feel the love.”

“I will be forever grateful to this organisation for picking me up when I was at my lowest and you helped me back together. I have two most wonderful counsellors who have been supportive, empowering and kind to me. With their compassion, guidance and knowledge I was able to give evidence in crown court and my abuser was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. I have now completed my counselling and feel ready to finally enjoy my life of freedom. Please accept this donation and carry on doing your most amazing work.”

“STARS saved my life.”

SPEAK UP

The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.

In Britain, where 1 in 3 women will experience sexual harassment, 1 in 5 will face sexual assault, 1 in 10 will be a victim of rape and 1 in 20 children will experience sexual abuse – Jokes or casual banter about rape are never funny. Calling out everyday sexism, demeaning language and jokes about sexual abuse or rape is one way we can keep ourselves, our family and our friends safe from sexual violence.

If you hear something, say something

No joke is harmless if it harms, and jokes about rape, sexual assault and abuse normalise and excuse serious sexual crimes. This kind of talk makes it easier for abusers to abuse, and harder for victims to come forward.

But here’s where you come in. By calling out these casual references to violence, we can start to shift the narrative. It’s not about grand gestures or public showdowns; it’s about saying, “That’s not right,” or “That’s not funny,” in the moment. This simple act of speaking up sends a powerful message: sexual violence is never acceptable.