About NDAS
Since 2003, NDAS has been a trusted Northumberland-based charity, offering free and confidential support to anyone affected by domestic abuse.
Our Vision
All victims of domestic abuse in Northumberland, and their children, will be protected; survivors empowered; and communities educated on the diversity and impact of domestic abuse.
Our Values
Welcoming
We welcome you, whoever you are.
Believing and accepting
We believe you, accept you and will not judge you. We are inclusive and do not discriminate.
Understanding
We understand what you are experiencing. Our staff are here to listen and help.
Protecting
We will make sure you stay safe and will help you make plans to ensure your safety.
Empowering
We will help you to find your voice and gain confidence and independence.
United
Working with you, and with other local partner organisations, we will find the right support.
Our Trustees
Helen Milner - Chair
Helen joined the board as Chair in September 2023. She has 35 years’ experience in the charity sector, most notably as the founder and Chief Executive of the North East Special Needs Network, a charity supporting families of disabled children from birth to 25 years, campaigning and influencing service provision in the North East.
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She was Chair of Governors at Hexham Priory School for 20 years, and Trustee of the Eden Academy Trust. In 2019, she was awarded an MBE for services to education and community in the North East. Currently, Helen is a Church Warden and the Lay Chair of the PCC at Hexham Abbey, and President of Tynedale Soroptimists.
Julia Brown - Treasurer
Julia was a stock broker with Brewin Dolphin. She ran finance workshops for children for a number of years. She has been involved in the charitable sector for over 20 years, working as administrator of a charity and as a trustee of the Rothley Trust and previously of the Hearth in Horsley.
Pat Oliver - Secretary & Safeguarding Lead
Pat joined the NDAS Board in 2019 as trustee secretary and safeguarding oversight. She originally trained as a registered nurse but moved on to become a Community Nurse Manager, covering teams in North Tyneside and Northumberland, until she retired in 2018.
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During her career Pat has held supervisory roles in safeguarding, with day-to-day responsibility for numerous teams and individuals. This frequently included work around child protection and associated concerns re domestic abuse. She is an accredited Health and Safety Assessor with wide experience developing and delivering domestic abuse awareness courses and latterly personal safety training for the NHS Trust. She has worked with Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and with refuges and is also an accredited Suzy Lamplugh Personal Safety Trainer.
Diana Barkes - Trustee
Diana joined NDAS in 2023. As a Magistrate sitting since 1999, Diana has seen the destructive effects of domestic abuse on the victim and wider family. It is this experience that has fuelled her desire to join the board of NDAS and to use her knowledge to help shape policy. Diana is High Sheriff of Northumberland for the year 23-24, a role which brings her into contact with a wide range of people from all walks of life.
Alison Richardson - Marketing
Alison joined the Board in Sept 2017 with oversight for marketing and communications. She has over 25 years’ experience of working in communications and PR. Latterly, she worked for one of the North East’s largest housing groups where she managed a small team to deliver a whole range of communications including internal communications, branding, public affairs and digital communications.
Claire Seeley - Trustee
Dr Claire Seeley, a recently retired GP joined NDAS in 2023. Claire has worked as a GP for over 30 years in Prudhoe and Stocksfield, following time as a GP and training in Cambridgshire. Claire attended Mount School York and Gordonstoun Elgin Morayshire; going on to medical training at St Andrew’s University Scotland and Manchester University.
Feedback
It’s important for us to receive your feedback about the service and the support we provide because it lets us know what you think and what is important to you. Your feedback gives us valuable information about how we can improve our practice and the services we offer to better meet your needs.
If you have feedback, a compliment or a complaint, about the service or the support you received at NDAS, we want to hear from you!
Talk to Us
If you want an informal chat you can speak with your practitioner, otherwise you can ask to speak to the Team Manager or CEO who will listen to your feedback and take any necessary actions.
You can talk to us in person or ring us on 01434 608030.
Write to Us
You can write to us at:
NDAS
Unit 3
The Waterhouse
Burn Lane
Hexham
NE46 3HN
Email Us
Email us at admin@nda.services or use the form below:
Complaints
You have the right to make a complaint about the service or support you receive from NDAS. Making a complaint will not disadvantage you in anyway. NDAS welcomes feedback and complaints and has processes to respond to your complaint professionally and openly.
What information should I include with my complaint?
When you’re making a complaint, it is helpful for us to know:
Your name
The best way to contact you (telephone, email or mail)
If it’s safe to contact you
What happened and when
Who was involved
What are you concerned about
What you would like to happen
You can make an anonymous complaint but this sometimes makes it difficult for us to investigate a specific issue.
What happens after I make a complaint?
We will acknowledge your complaint in writing within seven working days. Sometimes a complaint can be solved immediately and sometimes we will need to contact you for some more information about the issue.
When we investigate your complaint, we may need to speak to staff, review our files or speak to other people who have been involved.
If we are unable to resolve your issue within 28 days, we will let you know and keep you informed of progress.
What happens if I’m not happy with the outcome of my complaint?
You can request that your complaint be reviewed by the NDAS Board of Trustees. This request should be made to the CEO.
As NDAS is a registered charity, if you are dissatisfied with the outcome you can complain to the Charity Commission at any stage. Further information on how to make a complaint to the Charity Commission can be found here: Raising Concerns · Starter Portal (charitycommission.gov.uk)
If you still have questions about the feedback or complaint process please email us on: admin@nda.services
Funders and Sponsors
