For professionals
Ahimsa is Plymouth's leading specialist provider of domestic abuse behaviour change work, and the South West's specialist authority on perpetrator accountability work. As the only Respect-accredited provider in the South West peninsula, we offer expert consultation, training, and practice leadership across the region — as well as direct delivery across the full risk spectrum from standard through to high-risk, high-harm cases.
We have been delivering this work since 1990, developing deep expertise that informs not just our own practice but the wider sector across Devon, Cornwall, and beyond.
We work closely within a multi-agency context, attending Plymouth MARAC and MATAC, and working alongside Plymouth City Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, Probation, CAFCASS, and other statutory and voluntary agencies. Our integrated model — working with those causing harm while simultaneously supporting their (ex)partners and families through a separate, dedicated team — is central to how we manage risk and promote safety.
If this is your first time making a referral to Ahimsa, please get in touch to discuss the referral process, costs, and suitability before submitting.
Our services
Ahimsa Youth Service
Our prevention-focused service for young people aged 16–25 displaying harmful behaviour in relationships or towards family members. Our Healthy Relationship Advocates use a flexible, non-judgemental approach — meeting young people where they are, whether in schools, community settings, or online.
As with our adult programme, we proactively reach out to support the partners and parents of young people on the service. This integrated offer ensures the safety and wellbeing of those affected by harmful behaviour is held alongside the work with the young person themselves.
Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP)
Our core Respect-accredited programme for adults displaying harmful behaviour in relationships. Combines one-to-one and group work over 30 weeks. Primarily for standard and medium-risk cases. Self-referral pathway also available.
As part of every referral, we proactively reach out to current and ex-partners to offer dedicated confidential support through our Partner Service. This runs alongside the programme, delivered by a separate team working in close communication — ensuring victim safety is central to every intervention.
High Risk High Harm — delivered through IDASP
Ahimsa delivers specialist behaviour change work as part of the Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth (IDASP) — a landmark partnership bringing together Ahimsa, First Light, Barnardo's, and Bridge Outcomes Partnerships. This is the first time Plymouth has had a fully integrated domestic abuse service, commissioned by Plymouth City Council.
Ahimsa provides intensive one-to-one behaviour change work with people posing a high risk and high frequency of harm, working closely alongside Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). Cases are coordinated through MARAC and MATAC.
Our programmes work across same-sex and heterosexual relationships, adapted for diverse relationship contexts rather than applying a heterosexual framework universally. This is a distinctive feature among Respect-accredited programmes. We welcome referrals regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the person causing harm.
Who we can and cannot support
We are unable to accept referrals where the individual:
Has been sentenced to a Community Order with a Building Better Relationships requirement
Is on bail or going through the court process (pleading Not Guilty) for a domestic abuse related offence
If you are unsure about suitability, please contact us before submitting a referral.
Referral pathways
Ahimsa Youth Service: Contact us directly to discuss suitability and referral.
Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP): We accept referrals directly from social services and CAFCASS for individuals subject to child arrangement orders and on the child protection register. Individuals not engaged with statutory bodies are required to self-refer.
High-Risk, High-Harm (HRHH): Referral pathway through Integrated Domestic Abuse Service Plymouth (IDASP), MARAC, Police, Probation, or other agencies with consent — including drug and alcohol services, health, mental health, and social care (adult and children's).
MARAC
Ahimsa is active within Plymouth's Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), contributing specialist perpetrator behaviour change expertise to the multi-agency response to high-risk domestic abuse cases. MARAC referrals are one of the primary pathways into our High Risk High Harm service through IDASP.
MATAC
Ahimsa is an active contributor to Plymouth's Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordination (MATAC) approach to domestic abuse. MATAC brings together police, probation, Plymouth City Council, and partner agencies in a coordinated, perpetrator-focused response to the highest-risk cases. MATAC is chaired by Devon and Cornwall Police. Ahimsa receives referrals through MATAC and delivers the specialist behaviour change element.
Respect accreditation
Ahimsa holds Respect accreditation — the UK quality standard for domestic abuse perpetrator programmes. We are one of only a small number of Respect-accredited services in the UK, and the only accredited provider in the South West peninsula.
Accreditation is not a one-time award. It requires ongoing assessment against rigorous standards covering:
Victim safety — our Integrated Support Service must make contact with survivors within one working week of a referral, and survivor safety drives every decision we make
Evidence-based practice — our programme content and delivery methods are assessed against current research and best practice
Risk management — robust systems for assessment, case management, and safe suspension or removal from the programme where needed
Multi-agency working — active contribution to coordinated community responses including MARAC and MATAC
Workforce quality — minimum 20 hours of professional development per worker per year, with regular supervision and competency review
Monitoring and evaluation — ongoing measurement of outcomes and impact
Diversity and inclusion — services designed to be accessible and appropriate across all communities
For referrers, Respect accreditation means you can have confidence that Ahimsa's work meets the highest standards in the field — and that victim safety is embedded at every stage of our practice, not just in our values statement.
Training for professionals
Ahimsa delivers specialist workforce development training for frontline professionals working with domestic abuse — grounded in over 35 years of specialist practice and our Cultivating Receptivity approach.
Training is available at several levels, from introductory three-hour sessions through to our Behaviour Change Champions programme for practitioners working directly with people causing harm. We also offer a monthly Community of Practice — an open reflective practice space for anyone working in this area.
100% of participants say they would recommend our training to others.
"Most definitely the most valuable training I have been on."
Upcoming sessions are available to book via Eventbrite. Bespoke delivery for your organisation is also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Contact us directly to discuss the referral before submitting — particularly if it's your first referral or you're unsure about suitability. For IDAP, we accept referrals from social services and CAFCASS for individuals subject to child arrangement orders or on the child protection register. For HRHH, referrals come through MARAC, police, probation, or other agencies with consent. Call us on 01752 213535 or email enquiries@ahimsa.org.uk.
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For statutory referrals, there is no cost to the individual. For self-referrals onto IDAP, we use a sliding scale based on income — sessions start from £5 for those on benefits or a low income.
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We are unable to accept referrals where someone is on bail or going through the court process for a domestic abuse related offence. This is a Respect Standard requirement — it ensures that engagement with a behaviour change programme cannot be used to influence sentencing. Please re-refer once the criminal justice process has concluded.
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As part of every referral, we ask for the contact details of any current or ex-partners. Our dedicated Partner Service team will reach out to offer them confidential support, safety planning, and information. This happens within one working week of the referral being received. The partner's engagement with us is entirely independent of the person referred — they can access support whether or not the referral proceeds.
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We work within a multi-agency framework and share relevant risk information with referring agencies where appropriate. We will inform you of the outcome of the assessment process. Ongoing updates are managed in line with our information sharing protocols and the Respect Standard.
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If someone is assessed as unsuitable for the programme, we will inform you and, where appropriate, discuss the case within the relevant multi-agency forum to identify the most appropriate alternative pathway. We will not simply close the case without considering the safety implications for those at risk.
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Yes. We work with people of all genders and sexual orientations who use harmful behaviour in relationships — in heterosexual, gay, lesbian and transgender relationships. Our model is adapted for diverse relationship contexts, not simply transferred from a heterosexual framework.
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IDAP runs over 30 weeks, combining one-to-one and group work. HRHH involves intensive weekly one-to-one sessions for six months. The Youth Service typically involves 24–36 sessions, delivered flexibly.
Call Us
01752 213535
Not sure if Ahimsa is right for you? Call us and we'll talk it through — whatever brings you here.
