Routes to Safety

Enhancing referrals to make victims of domestic abuse safer, sooner.

Every victim/survivor of domestic abuse deserves a safe route to support and protection. The Routes to Safety project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, explores how identity shapes a victim/survivor’s journey to safety and the barriers they may face along the way.

By centring lived experience, we aim to improve referral pathways and ensure timely, effective support for all victims/survivors—especially those from marginalised communities.

Why this research matters

Victims/survivors with intersecting marginalised identities often experience additional challenges when seeking safety, such as:

Discrimination within services

Lack of culturally competent support

Fear of being disbelieved or criminalised

Barriers related to immigration status, disability, or LGBTQ+ identity

These barriers can mean victims/survivors do not receive the right help at the right time, leaving them at risk.

Our research will provide critical insights to improve how victims/survivors are identified and referred across multi-agency settings, ensuring that no one is left behind.

By identifying these challenges, Routes to Safety will help drive systemic changes so that every survivor—regardless of their identity—can access safety and justice.

If you are a victim/survivor with multiple marginalised identities wanting to use your voice to help others or a professional who works with victims/survivors register your interest below.

What we’re investigating

This project will help us answer key questions, including:

How does identity influence safety pathways?

What barriers do survivors face when accessing support?

Where are there gaps and inequalities in referrals and multi-agency responses?

What are the best practices for ensuring survivors receive the right support at the right time?

We want to understand the whole person and improve the response they receive, making them safer sooner.

Through data analysis and victim/survivor interviews, we aim to develop strong policy and practice recommendations that drive real change.

Get involved

We need your voice to shape this work.

For victim/survivors:

Are you a victim/survivor with multiple marginalised identities? Have you experienced barriers to safety due to your race, disability, immigration status, gender identity, or other factors?

We are interviewing victims/survivors to better understand how intersecting identities impact safety and support. Your insight is vital. If you feel comfortable sharing your experience, your voice can help improve services for others.

For professionals:

Do you work in domestic abuse services, the police, social care, health, or another frontline profession? We’re gathering insights from practitioners to understand:

What works well in supporting victims/survivors

The challenges professionals face in responding effectively

How services can improve to meet the needs of marginalised victims/survivors

What this research will achieve

By collecting real-world experiences, we will:

Identify key obstacles preventing timely support

Develop policy recommendations for government and service providers

Share best practice guidance to improve professional responses

Ultimately, this research will ensure that victims/survivors from all backgrounds have access to the safety and support they deserve.

Learn more & stay updated

Follow our progress and see how your voice is shaping this vital work. We’ll be publishing updates, findings, and recommendations as the research progresses.

Contact us

If you or someone you work with would like to be involved, please get in touch.

Email [email protected] or [email protected].