Her Majesty The Queen met frontline colleagues working at our Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS) yesterday.
Upon arrival, Her Majesty met privately with a domestic abuse survivor who now works for the service after accessing its support.
Her Majesty then met GDASS colleagues who outlined the stages of an individual’s journey through GDASS services, from initial contact through to the range of support available to those who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse.
GDASS is a service run by GSA and is commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council, with support from the county’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and NHS Gloucestershire for some specialist roles.
Heather Downer, our Domestic Abuse Services Manager, said: “It was a great honour to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and to have the opportunity to highlight the vital work undertaken by GDASS and our partners across Gloucestershire.
“We are deeply grateful for Her Majesty’s longstanding advocacy on behalf of survivors of domestic abuse and her commitment to addressing violence against women and girls.”
GDASS was first awarded the contract to deliver domestic abuse support services in Gloucestershire in 2012 and has since been recognised for the quality of its provision, receiving Leading Light accreditation from SafeLives — a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse.
Between July 2024 and July 2025, GDASS received 9,400 referrals for support, responded to 1,000 calls to its professional helpline, and delivered training or engagement to 3,622 individuals across Gloucestershire.
In addition to GDASS, we provide domestic abuse accommodation services in Walsall, Birmingham and Wiltshire.
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for Public Health, Communities and Fire:
“Through our partnership with GreenSquareAccord, we’ve created a service that combines expert support with practical help that enables victims and survivors to help them rebuild their lives. The vital thing here is to support them both in the community and also those accessing safe accommodation, which includes options to enable them to remain in their own home safely.
"Her Majesty’s visit is a powerful recognition of the professionalism and compassion shown every day by the GDASS team to tackle domestic abuse. We will continue to invest in services and support to tackle domestic abuse, and deliver safer outcomes for victims and survivors and their families.”
We also offer 24 ‘Places of Safety’ across Gloucestershire — fully furnished houses and apartments for those at highest risk of harm due to domestic abuse. Individuals remain in these properties until a safe and appropriate longer-term housing solution is identified and receive specialist support from GDASS throughout their stay.
The Places of Safety scheme is funded by the Gloucestershire Strategic Housing Partnership.