OVER 15 years it has helped to change 50,000 lives.

The statistics speak for themselves and are indicative of an organisation which is proving vital in helping women and their families to escape the violence that has been dominating their lives.

Based in Bradford, Staying Put is a unique service to support women and their children fleeing domestic abuse, yet allowing them to stay in the family home, a place which provides them with a safe environment.

“Staying Put is unique as it was set up to give victims/survivors experiencing domestic abuse support and direct services to offer them choices which enable them to stay in their own home, should they choose to,” says the charity’s director, Yasmin Khan.

Looking back over the 15 years gives them the opportunity to see how far Staying Put has come and to celebrate their achievements.

Yasmin says they have succeeded in their primary aim to ‘engage, empower and sustain’ their service users.

“This has been achieved through the provision of innovative services that have kept victims/survivors and their children experiencing domestic abuse safe, without uprooting or moving them.”

Yasmin says they ensure survivors are never silenced. The charity listens to them and responds.

“No words can ever do justice to the devastating impact caused by domestic violence/abuse - the sorrow, grief and even the potential loss of life that can come from these intolerable crimes.

“However, it is important to remember and celebrate 15 years of work without which, lives would not have been transformed, families rebuilt and children and young people kept safe in the moment and for the future.

“It is because of this potential life-changing impact that the staff at Staying Put have worked so hard over these last few years. We constantly strive to create new ideas, new developments and new opportunities for clients while strengthening our existing partnerships.”

In the 15 years since it was formed, Staying Put has reached more than 15,000 survivors and more than 35,000 children.

“There is a deep passion for the charity, a cultural diversity that is second to none, a high level of integrity and trust, plus a commitment to our people’s development and the development of all our services,” Yasmin says.

“In this fast-changing environment, our culture has evolved with stronger values and principles and this has enabled us to deliver effective services.”

Many charities and organisations are feeling the pinch in light of financial cutbacks, but Yasmin explains diversifying their funding stream has helped them to strengthen their position in the sector.

“Despite a challenging climate, Staying Put remains at the heart of the solution for many victims of domestic abuse and will continue to be proactive in raising the profile of this terrible crime,” she says.

The charity continues to raise its profile and works closely with the Statutory and Voluntary Community service to ensure the correct services are in place to support the health and well-being of people living with domestic abuse.

Yasmin talks about the important partnership with key stakeholders ensuring local domestic abuse services work together to meet the objective of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Strategies, and ensure a strategic response to ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) and inter-personal violence against men.

The dedication and commitment of its staff is also imperative to the charity which, as well as being selected on the Scale Replicator programme, led by the International Centre for Social Franchising (ICSF), has also secured money from the Big Lottery Fund to review its strategic plan.

This, explains Yasmin, will assist the charity ‘to grow and scale over the next five years and widen our reach and help many more vulnerable people.’

But it is the testimonies of the women the charity has helped that prove the important role Staying Put plays in tackling this sensitive issue.

One woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, suffered with domestic violence for many years before seeking help.

“It [Staying Put] benefited me in many ways. It gave me the confidence,” she says.

“I thought that was what life was all about - now I can stand up for myself with confidence. I have moved on.”

For more information, visit stayingput.uk.net or call 01274 667104.