Latest job opportunity at STARS Dorset, Adult and Children and Young Person's Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVAs) Roles. Read more
The Next Steps Project supports children and young people to overcome the impacts of domestic abuse. Once a child or young person is living in a safe environment, Next Steps can offer group work or one to one mentoring support to develop self- awareness and emotional resilience and learn healthy coping mechanisms facilitating the management of strong emotions and behaviours. Read more
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Those wishing to access any of our services such as our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Service (ISVA) or our Counselling Service can either ask a professional they already receive support from to refer on their behalf or make a self-referral. Read more
Grounding techniques are designed to help you be ‘grounded’ in the here and now – not thinking about the past or being overwhelmed by your thoughts or feelings. Read more
Stress from a traumatic event can often lead to a variety of sleep problems. Here are a few ways to help you improve your sleep. Read more
Nightmares are vividly realistic, disturbing dreams that wake you from a deep sleep. Here are a few ways to help manage your nightmares. Read more
Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear, to follow are some ways that can help you manage panic attacks. Read more
A flashback is when memories of a past trauma feel as if they are taking place in the current moment. That means it’s possible to feel like the experience of sexual violence is happening all over again. Here are somethings that might help if you are experiencing a flashback. Read more
To celebrate the one year anniversary of our new name we are asking everyone across Dorset to do as many star jumps as they can in one minute for us on Friday 22nd May 2020. Read more
STARS Dorset are closed from 4pm on Wednesday 23rd December until 9am Monday 4th January. Click on the title for a list of other support services available during this time. We wish all our clients, supporters and friends a very Happy Christmas and New Year. Read more
Information on how STARS Dorset Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Service will be working throughout the COVID-19 period. Read more
Information on how STARS Dorset Counselling Service will be working throughout the COVID-19 period. Read more
Our Telephone Support Line (previously known as the Helpline) offers listening support to anyone who has been affected by sexual trauma. Read more
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STARS Dorset offers a comprehensive range of training courses for those working with or supporting survivors of sexual violence. Our training has been developed from our knowledge and experience of providing a range of specialist support services for over thirty years. We offer both Employer Awareness Training and Professionals Training. Read more
Our contact details, how to get in touch. Read more
Our Telephone Support Line number is 01202 308855. The Support Line provides listening support to anyone who has been affected by sexual trauma. Read more
At STARS we provide a dedicated counselling and a specialist Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service for Children and Young People in Dorset who have experienced sexual violence. All our Children and Young People's ISVAs and counsellors have been specifically trained to work with children. Read more
STARS Counselling service provides one to one, trauma informed counselling, free of charge, for anyone of any age or gender who lives, works or studies in Dorset and has experienced any form of sexual violence at anytime in their life. Read more
STARS Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Service is free and confidential. It provides practical and emotional support, information and guidance to anyone who lives, works or studies in Dorset and who has experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their life. Read more
From our work advising on the final series of ITV's Broadchurch, Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Trish Winterman, kindly agreed to be our first patron and we are delighted to have her support. Read more
In 1986 Bournemouth Youth Service together with Bournemouth Voluntary Services recognised the need for a support service for survivors or rape and sexual abuse. STARS Dorset now employs over twenty full time members of staff and has over eighty volunteers and its services include an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service, a Counselling Service, a Children and Young People Service and a Helpline. Read more