We’re so thrilled to let you know that, Breathing Space, our digital support tool for survivors is live and ready for you to access! This process has been extremely exciting for AVA. The tool has been truly co-produced throughout with a diverse group of women who have lived experience and with our brilliant and adaptable digital partner, InFact. We are really committed to developing and co-producing digital tools for both survivors and professionals, which are so needed – Breathing Space sits at the heart of AVA’s work going forward. This tool is freely available from any internet browser or on any mobile device, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
https://www.breathingspace-ava.org.uk/
Recording of Breathing Space Launch Event
Click here and use the password – =aDxM4^t
Introduction
Breathing Space is a trauma-informed resource and user-centred tool that provides both practical and emotional support to survivors of gender-based violence. The tool consists of:
- A neutral landing page
- A simple onboarding process. Users can tailor safety features and their UK region.
- An easy-to-use signposting section. Support is categorised into crisis relief, financial support, mental & physical support, family & children-oriented support, substance use, housing, and legal support, and support for Black and minoritised women.
- Self-care tools.
- Stories section.
Safeguarding, including digital, has been embedded throughout, and content submitted by users of the tool will be moderated by AVA staff.
Promotional Materials
Our aim with Breathing Space is to make the support available to as many survivors of gender-based violence as possible whilst ensuring the safety of each person using the tool. To do this we want to share it through the sector sensitively and, to do this, we are asking for your support. We have prepared promotional materials for you to use, and ask you to use #BreathingSpace when sharing the tool online. To receive our promotional materials please email ellie.cox@avaproject.org.uk. These include – an image with QR code, a information sheet, a banner image, a postcard & a bookmark.
Steering Group
At each stage of the development of Breathing Space our steering group of experts by experience were coming up with the ideas, reviewing, tweaking, and making sure the tool is trauma informed and useful for survivors of gender-based violence. We interviewed two of the women about their experience of co-producing the tool – what they have to say is fascinating and inspiring – you can listen to both episodes on our SoundCloud page.
Beta Sites
Throughout the Breathing Space journey we have been supported by various organisations providing us with valuable insights, feedback and ideas to help us keep improving Breathing Space. These organisations, or the ‘Beta Sites’, were provided with a beta version of the tool (the tool in its early stage), and worked with and disseminated the tool to the survivors they work with and provided us with invaluable feedback and ideas. We are very grateful to all of these organisations, and thank them for their support with Breathing Space.
Endorsements
We are looking for endorsements of the tool once you have familiarised yourself with it. If you would like to provide an endorsement of Breathing Space please edit this template, download the image as a jpeg and send it to ellie.cox@avaproject.org.uk, or, you are welcome to simply send the quote with your name and organisation to the above email address and we’ll do the rest.
