Community Based Services

“It made me look at the whole situation and really opened my mind to what was going on. I did not appreciate what was going on until the worker encouraged me to look at it and think about it more deeply. I did not recognise that I was experiencing emotional abuse. I came to the service very reluctantly, but I am so glad that I did. It was incredibly helpful and I could not fault it. Thank you”

Wycombe Women’s Aid’s Community Based Services are free of charge.  They exist to help women living in the High Wycombe, South Bucks and Chiltern Districts of Buckinghamshire, who are, or have been abused by a partner or family member.

Wycombe includes Marlow, Lane End, Princes Risborough, Stokenchurch, Wooburn Green & Bourne End.  Chiltern includes Amersham, Chesham, The Chalfonts, Great & Little Missenden, Prestwood & Seer Green.  South Bucks includes Beaconsfield, Burnham, Denham, Gerrards Cross & Iver.

Any woman who lives in the Wycombe, South Bucks and Chiltern Districts of Buckinghamshire and feels she is being abused is welcome to use community based services.

 Community Based Services comprise:

• Counselling

• Domestic Abuse Casework

• Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA)

• Group work

• Open Door drop in

Counselling

Domestic Abuse Casework

Domestic Abuse Caseworkers work with medium and standard risk women to provide:

-risk assessment and safety planning
-one to one emotional and practical support, either face to face or on the telephone
-signposting and onward referrals to appropriate agencies
-information so that women can make their own choices

Referrals will be accepted from individuals and statutory or voluntary agencies.  For information, advice, support or to make a referral, women and professionals can contact the Community Based Services team on 01494 449922.

A copy of our referral form can be found here: Community Services Referral Form

A copy of a DASH form can be found here: DASH Form

Agency referrals only – a DASH form must be completed prior to referral to establish the woman’s risk level.

Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA)

IDVAs work with high risk women to provide:

-risk assessment and safety planning
-information about options to improve safety
-information on legal options
-support through the court process
-liaison with other agencies

IDVAs offer short term crisis intervention for a limited time period before referring women to a Domestic Abuse Caseworker, or other appropriate external agency, for continued management of risk level.

Referrals will be accepted from individuals and statutory or voluntary agencies.  For information, advice, support or to make a referral, women and professionals can contact the Community Based Services team on 01494 449922.

A copy of our referral form can be found here: Community Services Referral Form

A copy of a DASH form can be found here: DASH Form

Agency referrals only – a DASH form must be completed prior to referral to establish the woman’s risk level.

Group Work

We are currently offering the following groups:

You & Me, Mum

You & Me, Mum is an 8 week programme (term time only) which aims to create a non-judgemental, non-threatening environment for women to explore parenting after experiencing domestic abuse.  Women will have the opportunity to safely explore the impact the domestic violence has had on their relationships with their children and challenging behaviour.  The objectives of the programme are:

• to understand how domestic violence affects you as a parent
• to understand the effects of domestic violence on children and young people
• to develop effective communication skills with children and young people
• to promote healthy and non-violent relationships
• to explore key protective behaviours messages and strategies for keeping mothers, children and young people safe

This is a self referral group that only accepts women who are NOT living with their abuser.  This requirement is in place to keep women and children safe. 

The programme takes place in High Wycombe and is free of charge.  It runs on Thursdays from 12.00pm until 1.30pm, with the next group starting on Thursday 16th April.  For more information and to reserve your place, please contact Antonina on 07442 963583. 

You and Me, Mum April 2026

“I am able to acknowledge strategies to help myself and my family and have ideas to help the feelings we have.  I have been able to find better ways to talk to the children about how they feel so it has helped things to be calmer at home.  I feel more able to move forward and it has been a great place to meet new women and make friends and share experiences, develop strategies and ideas to develop ourselves.  I have gained confidence in myself and it is well worth doing”

Freedom Programme

The Freedom Programme is a 9 week rolling programme which aims to support women who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic violence.  The programme aims to support women to make sense of how the abusive behaviour impacts on their wellbeing and on their children’s wellbeing.  It also challenges beliefs and shame around who is responsible for inflicting domestic violence.

The Freedom Programme takes place on TBC.  The group is in-person in High Wycombe and is free of charge.  The next group will be starting on TBC.

For more information and to register, please contact the Community Services Team on 01494 449922.

Open Door drop in

All women and children living in the Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks districts of Buckinghamshire who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic violence are warmly welcomed to come and have a chat and enjoy some refreshments at our monthly Open Door drop in service.

Open Door takes place on the last Friday of every month (apart from December which is the second Friday of the month) from 10.00am until 12.00pm at Wycombe Women’s Aid’s Community Services office in High Wycombe.  Wycombe Women’s Aid workers will be available to talk about Wycombe Women’s Aid services as well as a host of other professionals including a Solicitor, One Recovery Bucks, the Family Support Service, Sexual Health services and the Department for Work & Pensions.  All services are free and no appointment is needed – please just turn up!

For further information, please see the Open Door poster or call the Community Services team on 01494 449922.