Domestic Violence Awareness

(Managed by Medway Council)

Every Child Matters outcomes met:

• being healthy

• staying safe

Multi-sector/disciplinary training for key workers on Domestic Violence Awareness initially followed by the "Freedom" Programme to cascade to other workers.  Providing a programme of support in delivering the training to mothers involved in domestic violence to build self-esteem and to provide support for fathers.  Raising awareness in nurseries and primary schools through drama groups.    Delivered in partnership with the Domestic Violence Forum in Medway.  The Freedom Programme is a free informative group for women.

Women are:

• helped to understand the beliefs that are held by abusive men
• helped to recognise which of these beliefs they have shared
• shown the effects domestic violence and abusive behaviour have on children
• helped to recognise potential future abusers
• signposted to agencies which support women living with domestic violence so they gain self-esteem and the confidence to improve the quality of their lives.

We are currently (MArch 2008) running the thirteenth programme in Medway. To date 101 women have completed the programmes. 1:1 support and guidance has also been introduced recently, provided by the Women’s Support Service, and plans are underway to provide groups for children who have been affected by domestic abuse. The project will continue to be funded from the Children’s Fund pot through the Area Based Grant in 2008/9 and be reviewed before the end of that year.

Participants have said that they feel more confident and assertive; understand their feelings better; could now avoid unhealthy relationships and feel more hopeful for the future. One woman, having been helped by the programme and supported by other
participants, not only gained confidence to put in place legal orders restricting her partner’s access, but has been a mentor for other women, even supporting them in court.

Domestic violence training days that will be running in 2008/2009(81KB)

Case studies

Impact Evaluation Report(81KB)

Independent Evaluation(455KB)