AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) is a national charity dedicated to ending gender-based violence through policy work, training, and innovative projects. Unlike some organisations that focus purely on direct refuge provision, AVA stands out for its research-based initiatives, exploring the root causes of domestic and sexual violence and testing new approaches to survivor support.
One area of expertise is the intersection of domestic abuse with substance use or mental health challenges, which can complicate family-law cases if survivors are labelled “unfit parents” or if abusers manipulate these vulnerabilities during contact disputes.
Though AVA doesn’t typically represent survivors in court, it provides in-depth toolkits and training for professionals, ensuring that frontline workers – social services, family lawyers, or court staff – respond knowledgeably. For instance, if a survivor struggles with alcohol dependency (partly caused by trauma), AVA emphasises trauma-informed approaches over blame or stigma. Additionally, the charity’s policy efforts tackle inconsistencies in family courts, such as ensuring robust risk assessments before granting child contact to a parent with a proven record of violence. AVA also fosters peer support networks—where survivors can share strategies and experiences that feed back into future policy recommendations.
Key Services
- Training for Professionals: Workshops on trauma-informed practice, substance misuse, mental health, and intersectionality in domestic abuse.
- Research & Policy: Publishes influential reports on best practices for child contact, safe housing, or survivor-led reforms.
- Survivor Voice Projects: Facilitates survivor participation in policymaking, bridging real-life insights to high-level decisions.
- Toolkits & Guidance: Online resources that help family lawyers, IDVAs, or social workers address complex domestic-abuse cases.
Why It’s Valuable
AVA’s broad, systems-level approach indirectly shapes how family law operates on the ground. By training legal professionals and domestic-abuse advocates, they ensure survivors dealing with substance use or mental-health challenges aren’t automatically dismissed. Their push for evidence-based, survivor-centred practice can influence everything from CAFCASS risk assessments to judicial guidelines on contact orders. In essence, AVA ensures that the voices of survivors – particularly those facing multiple disadvantages, are heard and integrated into policy and practice. This leads to a more empathetic, informed family-court environment, minimising the chances that an abuser exploits the system to further harm or alienate survivors from their children.
Website: https://avaproject.org.uk/
Registered Charity Number: 1134713