Gold accreditation for Winchester City Council’s domestic abuse support
Winchester City Council has received official gold accreditation from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) recognising the council’s efforts with regards to its support for those experiencing domestic abuse.
The council received gold accreditation, the highest level available from DAHA, following a thorough assessment against the charity’s standards for responding to domestic abuse situations.
Since August 2023, the council has undertaken a significant programme of work to improve how it recognises and responds to domestic abuse.
This work has included embedding a trauma-informed, victim-centred approach to domestic abuse situations throughout council policies and procedures, and spearheading a local partnership of organisations to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive level of support for those experiencing domestic abuse.
Staff training has also been key, with organisation-wide training taking place to help officers respond to domestic abuse situations. In addition, the council has created a network of domestic abuse champions within its organisation, individuals who are well equipped to offer support.
Speaking about the accreditation, DAHA Regional Lead (South) Liberty Spencer said:
"The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) is proud to announce that Winchester City Council has officially achieved DAHA Accreditation, recognising its dedication to improving the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse and placing the needs and safety of survivors at the heart of its work.
“This accreditation marks a significant milestone for the council, reflecting strong progress in areas such as staff training, survivor support, partnership working, and safeguarding practices across its housing services.
“We were particularly impressed by the council’s commitment to providing a tailored, trauma-informed response, and by the way in which the voices of survivors have been consistently centred throughout their approach. It was also evident during the accreditation process that Winchester City Council places a clear focus on supporting staff members who may be victims or survivors themselves—demonstrating an organisational culture of care, safety, and accountability.
“Winchester’s achievement highlights its proactive and compassionate approach to tackling domestic abuse, embedding best practice across the organisation and setting a powerful example within the local and national coordinated community response."
Winchester City Council Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities Cllr Kathleen Becker said:
“Our journey towards becoming DAHA accredited has been significant and I couldn’t be prouder of our officers, who have taken up the cause to make sure the support we offer to victims and survivors is safe, conscientious, and effective.
“Domestic abuse cannot be allowed to continue, and by adopting the DAHA standards across all of our work, we’ve taken an important step towards providing greater safety and support for anyone that needs it.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a domestic abuse situation, Winchester City Council’s website has advice and further guidance.