Her Majesty The Queen met frontline workers supporting victims of domestic abuse in Gloucestershire during a visit this week.
The visit was hosted by Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS), commissioned by Gloucestershire County Council and delivered by housing association GreenSquareAccord (GSA).
Upon arrival, Her Majesty met privately with a domestic abuse survivor who now works for the service after accessing its support.
Her Majesty then met GDASS staff, who outlined the stages of an individual’s journey through GDASS services, from initial contact through to the range of support available to those who have experienced, or are experiencing, domestic abuse.
GDASS was first awarded the contract to deliver domestic abuse support services in Gloucestershire in 2012 and has since been recognised for the quality of its provision, receiving Leading Light accreditation from SafeLives — a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse.
Between July 2024 and July 2025, GDASS received 9,400 referrals for support, responded to 1,000 calls to its professional helpline, and delivered training or engagement to 3,622 individuals across Gloucestershire.
Heather Downer, Domestic Abuse Services Manager at GreenSquareAccord, said:
“It was a great honour to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and to have the opportunity to highlight the vital work undertaken by GDASS and our partners across Gloucestershire.
“We are deeply grateful for Her Majesty’s longstanding advocacy on behalf of survivors of domestic abuse and her commitment to addressing violence against women and girls.”
GSA delivers the service with support from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire and NHS Gloucestershire for certain specialist roles.
In addition to GDASS, GreenSquareAccord provides domestic abuse accommodation services in Walsall, Birmingham and Wiltshire.
The housing association offers 24 ‘Places of Safety’ across Gloucestershire — fully furnished houses and apartments for those at the highest risk of harm due to domestic abuse. Individuals remain in these properties until a safe and appropriate longer-term housing solution is identified and receive specialist support from GDASS throughout their stay.
The Places of Safety scheme is funded by the Gloucestershire Strategic Housing Partnership, comprising the county’s six district councils, Gloucestershire County Council, the Integrated Care Board, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire.