Outreach Support

Outreach Workers are experts in domestic abuse, prioritising your safety in every aspect of their work through practical and emotional support.

Yes, all of Rising Sun’s services are provided to victim-survivors free of charge.

Rising Sun is a registered charity, working to provide lifesaving support to adults and children experiencing and surviving domestic abuse. We are incredibly grateful to our funders and supporters who enable us to provide our specialist services for free. 

If you’re able to help us to continue being here for more victim-survivors in the future, please consider donating today.

Outreach Workers support adults experiencing domestic abuse who are considered to be of medium risk of harm, whereas IDVA’s support adults considered to be at high risk of harm. Outreach Workers will empower you through your journey to become free from domestic abuse or safer within an existing relationship.

When you are referred to Rising Sun by a professional, they will complete a DASH assessment with you. A DASH assessment will identify and assess risk following disclosures of domestic abuse, stalking or honour-based violence. If you self-refer into Rising Sun, a member of the team will call you to complete a DASH with you.

If you score 9-14 on a DASH assessment, you will be considered medium risk.

The DASH risk checklist is used to identify and assess risks when a potential victim discloses domestic abuse, ‘honour’-based violence or stalking. The questions in the DASH are based on extensive research about domestic abuse.

A DASH aims to enable frontline professionals to identify the level of risk that you are experiencing. 

A completed DASH becomes part of your active record, and provides a shared understanding of risk. The checklist ensures that assessments made about high risk cases are defensible and based on evidence.

The length of support by an Outreach Worker is different for everyone, they will be by your side as you become free from abuse or are safe within an existing relationship. If you continue to need support, your Outreach Worker may refer you into a Group Programme, our Support Café, or to Victim Support.

Rising Sun Outreach Workers are professionally trained to provide a specialist service to adults experiencing domestic abuse. Although they have an understanding of the legal system surrounding domestic abuse, they are not legally trained and therefore cannot offer legal advice. 

If you require legal advice, you can attend a Rising Sun One Stop Shop where a local solicitor will be available in person, or over the phone, to give you legal advice. 

We understand that the court system can be incredibly overwhelming. Your Rising Sun Outreach Worker can support you through your court proceedings, helping to explain the procedures, legal jargon and keeping you up to date. Unfortunately though, our team isn’t able to attend court with you.

If suitable however, your Outreach Worker can refer you to SATEDA, a domestic abuse charity in Swale, who have a  Support 2 Court team to come with you to hearings as McKenzie Friends (court guides/mentors) in Canterbury, Dartford, Maidstone and Medway Courts.