Up2U
Up2U is a service for anyone who recognises that they use domestically abusive or unhealthy behaviours in their relationships.
It’s a free service that’s available to anyone over 16, as long as they want to change their behaviours. We encourage self-referrals and referrals from agencies, and will tailor a programme to each individual to encourage positive changes.
There are three referral pathways. All clients will receive a full Up2U assessment and individuals will be allocated to either the programme, community support or family intervention programme.
Pathway 1: Up2U programme
The Up2U team will design a programme that’s just for you. They’ll encourage and motivate you throughout the programme and provide information about domestic abuse and the impact on victims and children.
The programme recognises that people use domestically abusive behaviours for different reasons, including:
- Power and control
- Learned behaviour
- Attitudes which promote male dominance
- Lack of emotional management skills
- Poor conflict resolution skills
The team will challenge your abusive thinking and help you to break the cycle, supporting you to make positive changes.
The programme can range from six to 40 sessions, with the option of extended sessions where risk and need indicate and will be delivered in group sessions or one-to-ones, dependent on the individual. For very high-risk individuals, sessions can be delivered two times per week.
Support for those around you
Through the programme, we offer support to your partner/ex-partner(s) to ensure they are part of risk and safety planning, but also so that they understand as you through the programme you will be making some positive changes.
If you have children or are living with children, abusive behaviours will also have an impact on them. To support your children while you are on the programme, we can work in partnership with your children’s services, their nursery, schools and other organisations to help you all benefit and develop healthier relationships.
Pathway 2: Community Support
The community support comes in the form of a weekly drop-in where clients are supported with issues surrounding:
- Mental health
- Substance Misuse
- Employment and education
- Housing and benefits
- Family support and counselling
Pathway 3: Family Intervention programme
This service works with high-risk families; offering support for parents, children and young people alongside intervention work with the parents who use domestically unhealthy/abusive behaviours.
Up2U hopes to break the cycles of unhealthy/abusive behaviour for the whole family.
Aims:
- To reduce the incidents of domestic violence
- To prevent the cycle of abuse
- To reduce the numbers of children in child protection services, edge of care and/or children in care
Benefits of working with Up2U
The Up2U service can help you to:
- Recognise and stop using abusive behaviours
- Learn how to cope with and manage overwhelming feelings
- Learn to manage the way you think, feel and then act
This will help you to have:
- Healthier relationships
- Happier children who will be less likely to become abusive or a victim of domestic abuse
- Reduced feelings of guilt and shame
- Less involvement with the police and other services
Join Up2U
If you live in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport or Havant and accept that you use abusive or unhealthy behaviours in your relationships and demonstrate a want to change you can contact Up2U.
Up2U will accept both males and females, from the age of 16, including those in same-sex relationships. In addition, if it is identified and evidenced that both members of a couple use unhealthy and abusive behaviours then a referral can be made to Up2U for both individuals. Each will be assessed individually and the programme pathway will be tailored to their individual needs, however please note they will not be worked with as a couple.
The Family Intervention programme is only available for families living in the north of Portsmouth.
Contact the Up2U service through Stop Domestic Abuse at 03300 165 112 or email up2u@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Up2U is a partnership between Stop Domestic Abuse and Portsmouth City Council and has received funding from the National Lottery and the Home Office.
