Professionals
SEEDS Devon
- What does SEEDS stand for?
- Who started SEEDS?
- Who are SEEDS Devon?
- What are SEEDS aims?
- What does SEEDS do?
- Can I join SEEDS?
- Where do I get more information about SEEDS?
Survivors Empowering and Education Domestic Abuse Services
Philippa Chapman from Somerset established the first SEEDS group in the country. Adva asked Philippa to work with them in 2005 to establish a group in Devon. Now SEEDS groups have spread across the South West region, part-sponsored by Government Office South West.
SEEDS Devon is a group of female survivors of domestic abuse from all areas of Devon. They are committed to influence and improve agency responses and service delivery for other women and children.
Following adva’s conference ‘Raising the Survivor’s Voice’ in November 2005 SEEDS started to meet regularly. They received formal training including domestic violence awareness and presentation skills.
SEEDS aims to be a voice for survivors, increasing understanding about the experience of domestic abuse amongst those working in the statutory sector. Aims include:
- To work with survivors, in all eight Districts of Devon, to obtain their views about the effectiveness and value of local services for women experiencing domestic abuse
- To raise awareness and understanding of the needs of children who have lived/are living in abusive relationships
- To raise awareness of other relevant issues, e.g. moving on
- To empower women to move forward in their lives by making positive use of their experiences.
- provides a consultation service to agencies to help them understand the survivor’s perspective.
- contributes to training events
- gives presentations to increase staff awareness and understanding of the impact of domestic abuse
- participates in question and answer sessions
- talks to the media to improve public awareness of the issue.
SEEDS have made a training DVD with the police; have trained Magistrates and Court staff; have done numerous presentations; spoken to Ministers; participated in many agency discussions about policy and practice and produced a report on the findings of their research with survivors across Devon. 
(251KB - pdf help)
If you are a survivor of domestic abuse and would like to join SEEDS Devon contact us. Alternatively if you feel that this group is not for you, but you would like to share your experiences to enable us to represent your point of view, please contact us.
- SEEDS Co-ordinator: 07866 355409
- Email: SEEDSDevon@aol.com
- Adva office: 01392 382233
SEEDS Devon leaflet (233KB - pdf help)
Raising the Survivor Voice in Devon, 2005 Conference Report (453KB - pdf help)
Agency response: Responding to the Survivor Voice, 2006 Report (151KB - pdf help)
SEEDS Constitution (37KB - pdf help)
Survivor Stories (63KB - pdf help)
SEEDS Questionnaire
If you are a woman who has had experience of any of Devon’s services in the last two years as a result of domestic abuse please help us by completing the following SEEDS Devon questionnaire and returning it by the end of July 2010 to: SEEDS Devon, c/o PO Box 121, Exeter, ED4 2XN
Any questionnaires completed online can be returned to; SEEDSDevon@aol.com
There is no need to give your name as the information used will be anonymous. If you would like to write more than the space allows please continue on the other side of the paper.
Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. It is much appreciated and your views and experiences can help to make a real difference to the services victims of domestic abuse in Devon receive in the future.
