One Stop Shops

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling behaviour towards another person. There are many different forms of domestic abuse, and it isn’t always physical or visible.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Financial or economic abuse
• Harassment and stalking
• Online or digital abuse

No, you don’t have to book an appointment to attend any of our One Stop Shops. Each one will offer advice, help and support to each attendee that arrives during their open hours. We do recommend arriving at One Stop Shop as close to the start time as possible as they can get busy.

When you arrive at One Stop Shop, you will be greeted by our welcoming volunteers. They will ask you to complete an anonymised form which will ask what you need support with. You will then be asked to take a seat, and when the agencies that you need to speak to are free, you will be asked over. 

If you require further support from Rising Sun, our representative can refer you into our service.

Yes! We understand that talking to someone about your experience of domestic abuse, whether it’s the first time or not, can be incredibly nerve wracking. If you have the support of a friend or family member, they are more than welcome to join you at One Stop Shop.

There are no limits to how many times you can attend a One Stop Shop to find support from agencies, but we may refer you into our services if it’s recognised that you need more consistent support.

You will always have access to a Rising Sun domestic abuse specialist at One Stop Shop in Canterbury, Ashford, Folkestone and Herne Bay. If a member of our team isn’t available in person, they will be available to provide telephone support. 

Yes, all of our One Stop Shops are located on the ground floors of accessible buildings. 

Yes! There are One Stop Shops across Kent and Medway, all of which are free to attend and do not require an appointment. 

Yes! Everything at One Stop Shops happens anonymously, you don’t have to share your name or specific details about your circumstances if you don’t wish to.

You will be asked to share your age and the area that you live in.

No information that you share at One Stop Shop is kept on file. Your data however, such as age and area, is included in nationwide data for domestic abuse services.

The only time we will keep your information on file, is if you agree to be referred into our services to access further support.