About BDAF

The Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum (BDAF) is a multi-agency forum made up of representatives from both voluntary and statutory organisations as well as members of the community who come together to promote a coordinated approach to tackling domestic abuse in Bristol. It is coordinated by the domestic abuse forum development and training coordinator with support from Safer Bristol.

Aims of the forum

• Co-ordinate and develop Bristol’s multi-agency strategy on Domestic Abuse and other joint policies to respond to domestic abuse.
• Increase awareness within the community and public at large of the scale, the consequences and the effects of domestic abuse.
• Inform and promote greater awareness and understanding by the judiciary, statutory and voluntary agencies that domestic abuse is a crime which must be treated seriously, appropriately and consistently.
• Encourage and maintain a coordinated response to domestic abuse and joint action and support where appropriate.
• Support initiatives aimed at the prevention of domestic abuse.
• Measure the extent of domestic abuse across the city and to work with partners to establish common methods of collating information to inform policies and develop services.
• Improve the accessibility of information, advice, protection, support and services for women, & children who have experienced domestic abuse.

Safer Bristol domestic violence action plan (pdf)

Strategy and sub-groups

BDAF is a collective name for the whole structure of domestic violence strategic and planning work (<Structure diagram of the forum, strategy group, and sub-groups>). Follow the links below for more information on each different group, their action plans, agendas and minutes, the dates of the next meetings, and contact details if you’re interested in joining:

Strategy group
Prevention sub-group
Provision of services sub-group
Protection and justice sub-group
BDAF city-wide forum
North Bristol domestic abuse forum
South Bristol domestic abuse forum

BDAF also works closely with the NHS's public health domestic violence and abuse team. To find out more about their work, including support for NHS staff experience domestic violence and abuse: http://www.bristol.nhs.uk/PublicHealth/DomesticAbuse.