If you are frightened, unheard, losing your children, being blamed, or told “there’s nothing more we can do,” please know this: it is not your fault, and you are not alone. 1VAA supports survivors failed by police, social services and the family courts — providing safety, advocacy and evidence when the system has shut its doors. Reach out. Something can be done.

You’re Not Alone: When the System Fails You, 1VAA Will Not

If you are reading this because you are scared, confused, overwhelmed, or exhausted from fighting to be heard, we want you to know something important:

You are not alone.
What you’re feeling is real.
And there is help.

For thousands of survivors across the UK, the worst part of abuse isn’t just the abuser, it’s being dismissed when they finally reach out for help.

We hear the same words every day:

“Nobody believes me.”
“They said I was overreacting.”
“The police closed the case.”
“My child wasn’t listened to.”
“They think I’m the problem.”
“The abuser is calm, so they assume I’m unstable.”
“I told them everything, and nothing happened.”
“I’m losing my children because I tried to protect them.”

If this is you, it is not because you’ve done anything wrong.
It is because the system is failing.

And that is where 1VAA steps in.

The Truth: The System Fails Innocent People Every Day

Victims come to us after they’ve already tried:

reporting to police
speaking to social workers
going through the family court
sending evidence that was ignored
raising clear safeguarding concerns that were dismissed
protecting children who weren’t protected

They have been blamed, misunderstood, or threatened.
Some have been told they’re “unstable” simply for crying after years of abuse.
Others have been labelled “hostile” for trying to keep their children safe.

Where Children’s services and Family Court push to suggest you have a mental health illness, when in fact you are traumatised by what you are being forced to continually go through, without any sign of this ending. Blaming you for not ‘accepting’ the ‘status quo’.

Many have been told:

“There’s nothing more we can do.”

But there is.
There always is.

If You Are:

frightened
being stalked
losing your children
afraid of your ex
facing false allegations
scared to return home
terrified of the next message
confused about the police process
exhausted from dealing with professionals
watching the perpetrator manipulate the system
unsure what is real anymore because of coercive control

We want you to hear this clearly:

You are not imagining it.
What you’re experiencing has a name.
And it is abuse.

1VAA understands what you are going through because we have lived it, studied it, and supported those through it.

You do not need to explain “why you stayed,” “why you were scared,” or “why you reacted the way you did.”
We already understand.
That is our job.

When Agencies Ignore You, 1VAA Steps In

Most survivors reach us when:

the police close their case
the abuser flips the narrative
children’s services misunderstand the situation
family court decisions put children at risk
they are being blamed instead of protected
they feel like giving up

We take these cases seriously.
We analyse the evidence.
We build timelines.
We escalate failures.
We protect children.
We challenge wrongdoing.
We explain your rights.

1VAA does not say:

“There’s nothing we can do.”
“Just keep a diary.”
“Wait until something else happens.”
“This is a civil matter.”
“It’s your word against theirs.”

Instead, we say:

“Let’s look at the evidence properly.”
“Let’s keep you and your children safe.”
“Let’s challenge this decision.”
“Let’s escalate this to someone who will listen.”
“You deserved protection the first time you asked for it.”

You Are Not Weak — You Were Traumatised

Survivors often tell us:

“I feel like I’m going mad.”
“I can’t stop crying.”
“I can’t organise anything now.”
“I used to be strong, what happened to me?”

What happened is trauma.
Trauma affects the brain, memory, concentration, and emotional regulation.
Trauma is not a sign of weakness.
Trauma is a sign that you survived something unbearable.

You are doing better than you think you are.
You are stronger than you know.
You reached out for help and that alone means you have not given up.

Let us help you with the rest.

You Deserve Safety — Not Judgment

You deserve:

to be believed
to be treated with dignity
to be protected
to be safe in your own home
to raise your children without fear
to have your evidence taken seriously
to live a life without control, threats or manipulation

You deserve to heal.
You deserve a future.
You deserve justice.

Abuse takes your voice.
1VAA helps you reclaim it.

If You Are Afraid, We Are Here

If your stomach drops each time your phone buzzes.
If you sleep with one eye open.
If you’re terrified of making a mistake in front of professionals.
If you feel like the perpetrator is ten steps ahead.
If you’ve been told the abuser “seems calm.”
If you’re scared the system will punish you.

You are not imagining the danger.
You are not overreacting.
You are not alone.

1VAA is here to stand with you, and for you.