Content warning: stalking and harassment
Aurora New Dawn, based in Hampshire, is a specialist charity offering life-saving support to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking.
There is a deep, collective understanding from staff and volunteers, often shaped by lived experience, that influences every service Aurora New Dawn provides, creating an environment where survivors are truly heard, respected, and empowered.
With a £10,000 grant from HIWCF’s Including Communities Fund in 2023, Aurora New Dawn has expanded its professional training programme – a vital step towards creating a more informed, compassionate, and responsive community. This expansion has seen the organisation train more professionals across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, improving early identification of victims and strengthening the safety net for those at risk. The funding is also helping Aurora New Dawn to secure its future by generating sustainable income, reducing reliance on short-term grants, and ensuring its essential services remain free for those who need them most.
Demand for Aurora’s expert training already exceeds its capacity, with previous participants reporting 100% increases in their knowledge and confidence to support victims. With HIWCF’s funding, Aurora has recruited a dedicated Training Coordinator, allowing them to reach even more organisations, from statutory services to grassroots community groups. The ripple effect will be felt across the region: more professionals equipped to spot the signs of abuse, more survivors offered the right support earlier, and stronger, safer communities.
The power of Aurora’s work is captured in the story of Jess.
Jess, 24, was living in a flat in Buckinghamshire in 2021 when her upstairs neighbour began a relentless campaign of stalking and harassment. For three long months, Jess endured daily knocks at her door, a flood of unwanted text messages, and disturbing behaviour that left her feeling “scared and confused”. Despite trying to ignore him, the harassment escalated – from strange, unwanted gifts left at her door, to the terrifying moment her stalker walked uninvited into her home one night after she forgot to lock her front door.
“I was angry. I was scared. I was confused,” Jess recalled. “There was not a day when I was not scared or worried or anxious about what was going to happen, if there was going to be a knock that day or he was going to take it up a notch and do something worse.”
Although the police took her case seriously, Jess was daunted by the idea of facing her stalker in court. This is where Aurora New Dawn stepped in. They provided Jess with unwavering advocacy, helping her secure the right to give evidence remotely rather than endure the trauma of a courtroom confrontation. Aurora fought beside her every step of the way, ensuring her voice was heard and her safety prioritised.
Jess’s courage, bolstered by Aurora New Dawn’s support, led to her stalker being found guilty of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. He was sentenced to an 18-month community order, 100 hours of unpaid work, and an indefinite restraining order.
Reflecting on her experience, Jess said: “If I hadn’t got out of the situation, I dread to imagine what would’ve happened.”
Jess has since moved to a new town to rebuild her life, carrying with her the strength and hope that Aurora helped to nurture.
Aurora New Dawn’s work, made possible in part by HIWCF’s support, extends far beyond individual survivors. Thanks to this funding, more professionals across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be equipped with the skills and confidence to intervene early and effectively. By strengthening the entire community’s ability to recognise and respond to domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking, HIWCF is helping to break cycles of harm and ensure more survivors, like Jess, have a pathway to safety, justice, and hope.
Together, HIWCF and Aurora New Dawn are not just supporting victims – they are creating lasting change, building safer, stronger, and more resilient communities for everyone.
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