Call Services for Bedfordshire on 0800 0282 887
If you need our support please contact us on 0800 0282 887. Please leave a message if no-one is available and one of our Team will be in contact with you as soon as they are free.
Our working hours are 0800-1800 Monday to Friday, we are closed on bank holidays and weekends.
Alternatively you can email us on info@bedfordshirevcs.com or complete the self-referral form found within the contact us section of this website and we will be in touch.
Our working hours are 0800-1800 Monday to Friday, we are closed on bank holidays and weekends.
Alternatively you can email us on info@bedfordshirevcs.com or complete the self-referral form found within the contact us section of this website and we will be in touch.
Whether it is you, a partner, friend, relative or colleague who has been impacted by a crime, Bedfordshire Victim Care Services is the way for you to find the help that meets your specific needs.
How We Can Help
Bedfordshire Victim Care Services (BVCS) supports those affected by crime residing in Bedfordshire, putting victims at the heart of everything we do. BVCS offers free and confidential support to anyone affected by crime, whether it has been reported to the police or not, irrespective of when and where it occurred.
This includes victims themselves, bereaved relatives, parents or guardians of victims under 16 and members of staff where a business has been the subject of a crime.
If you report a crime to the police you will be asked a few questions to find out how you have been affected by the crime and your personal circumstances, to see if there is any additional support that you might need and if a referral into our service would be beneficial.
We may then contact you by phone or in writing and one of our skilled Victim Care Coordinators will be able to identify the help you might need and what local support is available. If needed, we can support you through any proceedings at Magistrates’ or Crown Court.
We will also talk to you about the benefits of Restorative Justice, which can give you the opportunity to tell the offender about the real impact the crime they committed has had on you.
Emotional Support
Whether you have recently been affected by a crime or are experiencing delayed impact from a past crime, we are able to help you understand what has happened and how to cope and recover from what can be a traumatic experience.
Our experienced staff know what emotions and challenges you may be going through. They are specially trained to listen to you and give you help and advice. Often just talking to someone, especially one who is independent from your family and friends, can help you make sense of what has happened and find a way for you to cope and recover. We can provide a safe, neutral place for you to voice your fears, worries and emotions. Our emotional support is confidential and non-judgemental.
We also work with a range of specialist organisations and community support groups who we can help you to contact.
Practical Support
The impact of a crime isn’t just emotional. You may have to deal with practical problems such as damage to your property, through to more serious issues such as the loss of your home. We can liaise with partner agencies on your behalf to help you access support for these issues. You may be entitled to criminal injuries compensation, or you may even need help to understand your journey through the criminal justice system. We will give you the information that you need to help you with that journey.
If you or someone you know has been affected by crime, we can provide the support needed to enable you to cope and recover from your experiences and ensure you receive your entitlements under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime 2021. The service is free and available to anyone who has been affected by a crime irrespective of where and when the crime occurred.
Information for speakers of other languages - download our translated leaflets using the pdf links below:
Bengali.pdf
French.pdf
Gujarati.pdf
Punjabi.pdf
Urdu.pdf
Arabic.pdf
Chinese.pdf
Italian.pdf
Lithuanian.pdf
Polish.pdf
To access support contact us
Freephone: 0800 0282 887 (calls are free from landlines and mobiles)
Email: info@bedfordshirevcs.com
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 0800 - 1800
Out of hours you can leave a voicemail and we will call you back, please note, we are closed on bank holidays and weekends.
