IDAS

What IDAS does

IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services) is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales, founded in 1977 as York Women's Aid and rebranded in 2008. Headquartered at 39 Blossom Street, York, IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, operating across North Yorkshire, Sheffield, Barnsley, and Doncaster.

The organisation delivers a multi-channel service portfolio: confidential helplines (03000 110 110, 0808 808 2241, plus the national 0808 2000 247), a website-based live chat, four women-only refuges (York, Harrogate, Northallerton, Barnsley), self-contained dispersed accommodation, the Safe Havens hosted accommodation scheme, the LGBTQ+-inclusive Safezones project, ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) services, children and young people's programmes, Domestic Abuse Whole Family Approach (DAWFA) work, justice system support, no-recourse-to-public-funds casework, and accredited training for professionals. Technology infrastructure is a WordPress website on AWS with Cloudflare and Google reCAPTCHA, supported by third-party tools for live chat, forms, and analytics; no proprietary AI/ML capability is in evidence. The 200+ staff, volunteers, and trustees handled 20,762 referrals, 29,513 helpline calls, 1,952 live chats, and 318 families accommodated in the latest reported year, and trained 12,000 professionals.

IDAS is funded almost entirely through government contracts (North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, North Yorkshire County Council, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, City of York Council, Sheffield City Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council) and charitable grants (BBC Children in Need, ASDA Foundation, Bruno Schroder Trust, Two Ridings Community Foundation, Rotary Club, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation). All services are free and confidential to users; fundraising through JustGenerating and corporate partnerships (e.g. Taylors of Harrogate charity of the year 2024) contributes a supplementary ~£100k annually. Charitable income grew from £340k in 2005 to £4.8m in 2020, with further expansion through 2023-2025 contract wins and the 2025 purchase of 18 properties using social investment funding.

Name

IDAS

Legal name

Independent Domestic Abuse Services

Website

https://idas.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IDAS is a nonprofit charity founded in 1977, headquartered in York, UK, providing free, confidential support services for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence across Yorkshire through helplines, refuge and dispersed accommodation, community outreach, ISVA services, and professional training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Support Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services (EDALAFAD)

Keywords

• Domestic abuse support
• Sexual violence services
• Refuge accommodation
• Helpline support services
• Victim advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Local Authority Contracts: IDAS receives core funding from local authorities and police and crime commissioners including North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, North Yorkshire County Council, South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, City of York Council, Sheffield City Council, and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Major contract wins include a 7-year Barnsley contract (2023) and Doncaster accommodation contract (2024).
2. Charitable Donations and Grants: IDAS receives support from charitable foundations and corporate partners including BBC Children in Need, ASDA Foundation, Bruno Schroder Trust, Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, Rotary Club, and Two Ridings Community Foundation. Social investment funding was secured in 2024 to purchase properties.
3. Individual Donations: Public donations through JustGiving platform. IDAS needs to raise around £100,000 each year through donations to continue providing vital services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IDAS provides crisis support, emergency refuge accommodation, advocacy, and recovery services for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Services are delivered through a multi-channel model (helpline, live chat, in-person) and complemented by training and awareness services for professionals and communities.

Product overview

IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services) is a specialist charity providing a comprehensive suite of support services for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. The organisation operates a multi-channel service model consisting of: crisis support via helpline (03000 110 110 and 0808 808 2241) and live chat available weekdays; emergency and transitional accommodation including women's refuges (York, Harrogate, Northallerton, Barnsley), self-contained dispersed properties, and the Safe Havens hosted scheme; specialist support services including ISVA services for sexual violence survivors, children and young people's programmes (including the Children and Family Programme for adolescent-to-parent abuse), and whole family approaches; community-based support encompassing outreach, group work, and workshops; justice system navigation support; and professional training services. IDAS also maintains dedicated digital properties including a sexual violence website and family courts website. All services are free, confidential, and inclusive regardless of age, sex, gender, ethnicity, disability, or immigration status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Domestic abuse helpline Telephone-based crisis support service for people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence, providing confidential advice, safety planning, and referral to other IDAS services. Targeted at individual victims, survivors, and concerned others in the UK.
• Live chat support Web-based real-time chat service providing confidential crisis support and information to people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Targeted at individuals who prefer text-based or remote access over telephone contact.
• Refuge accommodation Safe emergency housing for people fleeing domestic abuse, including specialist support for adults and children. Targeted at victims/survivors and their children who require safe accommodation.
• Advocacy services Independent advocacy supporting victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence to navigate statutory and criminal-justice systems (e.g., police, courts, social services) and access their rights. Targeted at individual victims/survivors.
• Recovery programmes Structured longer-term recovery and support programmes for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Targeted at individuals who have moved past immediate crisis and need sustained recovery support.
• Professional training and awareness services Training, consultancy, and awareness services delivered by IDAS to organisations, employers, and public-sector bodies on domestic abuse and sexual violence. Targeted at professionals and organisations that need to train staff or meet safeguarding obligations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,762 referrals managed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Women's Aid FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated to Women's Aid Federation of England. Holds their National Quality Standard award which provides evidence of quality of refuges and dispersed accommodation. Supports the Women's Aid principle of open-door policy.
• Safe LivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieved Leading Lights accreditation from Safe Lives for domestic abuse services. The accreditation programme sets standards for supporting victims of domestic abuse across service provision, multi-agency working, human resources and governance.
• Lime CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieved Lime Culture Quality Standard for Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) services, demonstrating quality across leadership, access, service delivery and outcomes.
• Helplines PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieved Helplines Partnership Standards for helpline delivery in Sheffield, demonstrating quality for organisations providing helpline services.
• North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey funder and strategic partner providing funding for domestic abuse and sexual violence services across North Yorkshire.
• North Yorkshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey local authority funder and partner supporting countywide outreach and refuge services in North Yorkshire.
• South Yorkshire Police and Crime CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey funder for services in Sheffield and South Yorkshire region.
• City of York CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner and funder for York services.
• Sheffield City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Sheffield Community Services contract in 2019. Partner for emergency accommodation and community services.
• Barnsley Metropolitan Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract partner for domestic abuse and sexual violence services. Awarded 7-year contract in 2023.
• Target HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with IDAS in the Safezones project in Sheffield, providing safe accommodation for anyone escaping domestic abuse including LGBTQ+ community.
• Sheffield City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Safezones project for LGBTQ+ and heterosexual victims of domestic abuse.
• Foundation (North Yorkshire)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist agency providing services for people perpetrating domestic abuse in North Yorkshire. IDAS refers individuals seeking to change their behaviour.
• Cranstoun (South Yorkshire)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist agency delivering Inspire to Change programme for people perpetrating domestic abuse in South Yorkshire. IDAS refers individuals seeking support.
• RespectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charity accepted IDAS expression of interest to become a partner delivering the RYPP (Respect Young Person's Programme) in 2013. Also runs the helpline for perpetrators.
• Bonny Snowdon AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing charity support. Founder has personal connection to domestic abuse awareness.
• Torque LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing vital income and practical help through team engagement and business network.
• Storyteller MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting IDAS marketing and awareness efforts.
• Criminally Good BooksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing charitable support and helping give voice to the voiceless on abuse and violence.
• Taylors of HarrogateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected IDAS Harrogate as charity of the year for 2024, focusing fundraising efforts to support the organisation.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Respect: National charity working with perpetrators of domestic abuse and running the Respect Young Person's Programme. IDAS partners with Respect on perpetrator referrals and the RYPP, making it a directly comparable ecosystem peer with overlapping programme models.
• Target Housing: Housing and support charity partnering with IDAS on the Sheffield Safe Zones project for LGBTQ+ and heterosexual domestic abuse victims. Comparable as a specialist supported-housing provider working with the same vulnerable client base.
• Women's Aid Federation of England: Umbrella federation coordinating a network of local women's aid services across England. Directly comparable as IDAS is an affiliated member providing accredited refuges and dispersed accommodation under the Women's Aid National Quality Standard.
• Wearside Women in Need: Regional charity in the North East providing refuge, community outreach, and IDVA services for women and children. Highly comparable as a similarly sized regional specialist DA provider offering helpline, refuge, and dispersed accommodation.
• SafeLives: UK-wide charity driving best practice in domestic abuse response and awarding the Leading Lights accreditation IDAS holds. While primarily a standards/commissioning support body, it is a direct peer in setting service standards and shaping commissioner expectations.
• Refuge: National charity providing refuges, community outreach, and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women and children. Directly comparable as a UK DA service provider with helpline, refuge, and advocacy offerings, but operating at a larger national scale than IDAS.
• Galop: UK charity providing specialist domestic abuse and sexual violence support for LGBTQ+ communities. Directly comparable to IDAS's Safe Zones project and LGBTQ+ inclusive service line, with overlapping client segments.
• Victim Support: National charity supporting victims of crime, including domestic abuse. IDAS works with Victim Support on IDVA service management and both deliver community-based advocacy and justice-system navigation support for survivors.

Emerging players

• ManKind Initiative: UK charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse. Directly comparable to IDAS's male victim service segment, with overlapping mission and a national helpline.

Broad incumbents

• Samaritans: UK-wide crisis helpline charity. Comparable to IDAS's helpline service in delivery mechanism (24/7 telephone emotional support) but serves a much broader crisis mandate beyond domestic abuse.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IDASfor100
• YouTubevimeo.com/idasfor100
• Facebookfacebook.com/IDASfor100
• Instagraminstagram.com/idasfor100

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IDAS