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.

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.

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

To request information under Clare’s Law in Dorset, you can visit Dorset Police.

Sexual Violence Awareness Week - in the Bournemouth Echo

STARS Dorset Receives Seven Year Contract to Continue its support of Sexual Violence Survivors across Dorset

Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS Dorset) has been awarded a seven year contract to continue to provide its much needed Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service across the county.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset is providing £170,000 a year for the charity to run the service, while NHS England will provide £35,000 a year. The new contract, which begins in April and runs until 2028, represents a significant investment in STARS Dorset and will enable the charity to continue its great work throughout Dorset. Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) provide impartial and non-judgemental support and advice to survivors of sexual violence, helping them make informed choices while dealing with the aftermath of traumatic situations. They can support survivors who have reported to the police by helping them navigate the Criminal Justice System, as well as providing support for those who need to access other services such as health, housing, education, employment and benefits.

The charity’s ISVAs are person centred and client led and tailor support to individual needs, provide impartial information, ensure the safety of the survivor and any dependents, attend meetings and help develop a support plan with the client to address risks and identify support that is needed.

Survivors are able to meet with their ISVA face to face at STARS Dorset’s centres in Poole and Dorchester, as well as over the telephone or through remote sessions. Independent Sexual Violence Advisors work with adults and with children and young people and offer additional support to family members. The team also has a full-time male advisor funded by NHS England and holds nationally recognised Quality Standards for its support for male survivors.

Martyn Underhill, Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said: “These are dedicated individuals who provide incredible emotional and practical support to people who have been through some of the worst experiences possible, and are living through situations where everything seems confusing and out of control.

“While it is incredibly sad that the service is so badly needed, I am proud to be supporting it and ensuring it can help more people across the county for the next seven years.”

Helen Stevens, CEO of STARS Dorset, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to deliver ISVA services throughout Dorset, following the public procurement process.

“This opportunity will enable us to further develop the service over the next seven years, ensuring survivors of sexual violence in Dorset have access to the specialist support they need to enable their recovery. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the team at Dorset’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, The Shores, building on the already great partnership work that has been established between our two services.”

The Shores, Dorset’s Sexual Assault and Referral Centre provides specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. Their hard work and passion for helping those in need have allowed G4S, who runs the service, to regain a seven year contract from NHS England following a successful bid process. Together STARS Dorset and The Shores will be able to continue to support survivors across the county. Further details about their service can be found at https://www.the-shores.org.uk/

STARS Dorset Receives Seven Year Contract to Continue its support of Sexual Violence Survivors across Dorset

Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS Dorset) has been awarded a seven year contract to provide its much needed Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service across the county.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset & NHS England are also providing some funding. The contract is a significant investment in STARS Dorset and will enable the charity to continue its great work. ISVA’s provide impartial, person centred and non-judgemental support and advice to survivors of sexual violence, helping them make informed choices while dealing with the aftermath of traumatic situations. They work with adults as well as children and young people and can offer additional support to family members. They can support survivors who have reported to the police by helping them navigate the Criminal Justice System, as well as providing support for those who need to access other services such as health, housing, education, employment and benefits. Helen Stevens, CEO of STARS Dorset, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract to deliver ISVA services throughout Dorset, following the public procurement process. This opportunity will enable us to further develop the service, ensuring survivors of sexual violence in Dorset have access to the specialist support they need to enable their recovery. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the team at Dorset’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, The Shores, building on the already great partnership work that has been established between our two services.”

DONATE

At STARS Dorset we support any one of any age or gender who has been affected by sexual violence at any time in their life. All our support services are provided free of charge, from our one to one Counselling service, our Support Line, our Children and Young People’s service to our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service. One of the ways this is possible is through kind donations from our supporters.

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.

5 tips: How to speak up

“I’m not okay with that”

Plainly saying that you won’t go along with jokes like that is a powerful signal to everyone in the room. Without making a scene or being confrontational, you can make it clear that sexist banter or demeaning jokes aren’t okay with you.

“How is that funny?”

Play a straight bat. Ask why that joke is funny. Not many people will be comfortable explaining that their attempt at humour needs an unspoken tolerance of abuse or sexism to get a cheap laugh.

“And you think that’s okay?”

Everyone in the room knows that the punchline of a cheap, sexist gag is a real persons suffering. I wonder if your comedian would be okay with that joke being made about their daughter, their partner or themselves?

“How many women laugh at that joke?”

Personalise the punchline. Your comedian colleague is fine making someone a punching bag when they’re not in the room. Ponder aloud how would go over if they told the joke to them.

“Someone’s gonna laugh all the way to HR with that one”

Maybe you’re not able to call them out directly, so don’t. It’s not you threatening to report them, but you’ve reminded them that someone else might.