Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse

Honouring Harpreet: A Call for a Coordinated Community Response Harpreet’s story is one of courage, but it also exposes the systemic failures that leave migrant women trapped in cycles of abuse and fear. At Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, we stand with Harpreet and all survivors who face impossible choices: stay in abuse or risk deportation and destitution.  As our CEO, Cherryl Henry-Leach, says:   “Harpreet’s courage is a testament to resilience, but it’s an indictment of our systems that she had to endure so much before finding safety. A Coordinated Community Response is a lifeline for survivors like Harpreet—ensuring no one falls through the gaps.” We call for urgent action to support migrant survivors:   ✅ Strengthen the Coordinated Community Response (CCR).   ✅ Implement a data-sharing firewall between police and immigration enforcement.   ✅ Expand access to specialist ‘by and for’ services.   ✅ Guarantee safe housing and financial support for all survivors.   ✅ Reform immigration policies to simplify indefinite leave to remain.  Harpreet’s story is a call to action. Domestic abuse does not discriminate, and neither should our response.  📖 Read the full statement and join us in advocating for change: https://lnkd.in/e77JH-nG #EndDomesticAbuse #MigrantWomen #CCR #Intersectionality #StandingTogether  

✨ The Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse team was delighted to be joined by so many professionals for the Introduction to CCR webinar. Attendees included representatives from statutory and voluntary sectors, including Local Authorities across England, Housing Associations, Specialist Domestic Abuse Support Services, Specialist By and For services, Health, Training, and Education. We received positive feedback about how informative and useful the information shared had been. For anyone who would like more information about the Coordinated Community Response, including Network Membership and our CCR Leaders course, please email ccr@standingtogether.org.uk or sign up to our mailing list via https://lnkd.in/ehpT9Mfh  

Protecting Victims of Domestic Abuse: The Need for Stronger Housing Safeguards The Renters’ Rights Bill presents an important opportunity to transform the rental sector, but it risks leaving survivors of domestic abuse behind without critical amendments. Domestic abuse is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children. Survivors often face eviction due to anti-social behaviour complaints, economic abuse, or rent arrears, even when these are direct consequences of the abuse they have endured. Housing instability compounds trauma and leaves survivors trapped in unsafe situations. At Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, we are calling on the House of Lords to strengthen the Bill by:  🔹 Introducing Pre-Eviction Protocols: Safeguarding survivors by ensuring domestic abuse is ruled out as a factor in complaints or arrears before possession orders are granted.  🔹 Guaranteeing Survivor-Centered Housing Access: Enabling survivors to quickly access safe, secure alternative housing, backed by comprehensive support services.  🔹 Mandating Multi-Agency Collaboration: Strengthening the response to domestic abuse through training, transparency, and partnership among landlords, housing providers, statutory services, and domestic abuse specialists. Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/ejxur_Mn Additionally, we advocate for the Whole Housing Approach (WHA), a pioneering model addressing all housing tenure types and empowering survivors with the stability they need to rebuild their lives. WHA provides tools and strategies to prevent homelessness, identify abuse early, and ensure survivors can stay safely in their homes or maintain tenancies when relocating. Let’s make sure the Renters’ Rights Bill truly serves everyone, especially those most vulnerable. Housing is not just a right—it’s a lifeline.  #DomesticAbuse #HousingRights #SurvivorSupport #RentersRights #WholeHousingApproach 

📢 In the last six months Coaction Hub have delivered pioneering training sessions to 116 MARAC Co-ordinators across England and Wales on MARAC and harmful practices. These trainings were designed to support MARAC Co-ordinators to better identify and respond to harmful practices in a MARAC setting.   ✨ 99% of MARAC Professionals rated the trainings good/excellent. Prior to this Coaction Hub’s research, ‘Are MARACs Effective for Harmful Practices? Research Paper and Toolkit,’ revealed a significant knowledge gap among MARAC professionals: ➡️ 56% of coordinators lacked confidence in their knowledge of harmful practices. ➡️ 42% had no prior training, and many of those who did focused only on specific forms, such as ‘honour’-based abuse or forced marriage. To address this, Coaction Hub's training delved into a range of harmful practices through engaging conversations, myth-busting and case study analysis framed within an intersectional and anti-racist perspective. The training also underscored the crucial role of by and for agencies in effectively tackling these issues. You can read Coaction Hub's research paper and toolkit, 'Are MARACs Effective for Harmful Practices?':  https://lnkd.in/dWDZJCwf More info on responses regarding Coaction Hub’s targeted training for MARAC Coordinators across England and Wales: https://lnkd.in/ef7X3Xpn

🔸 Empowering Survivors Through Collaboration 🔸 We sat down with Diniz Kemal, Senior MARAC Coordinator at Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, to explore the transformative power of MARACs (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) in creating safer, more equitable spaces for victim-survivors of domestic abuse. 📖 Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/etpK9aj9 From frontline advocacy to championing multi-agency collaboration, Diniz shared her journey of over seven years in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector, emphasising: ✅ The power of MARACs in breaking down systemic barriers. ✅ How data-driven advocacy leads to survivor-centric services. ✅ The importance of a survivor-led approach in driving meaningful change. 💬 “At its core, MARAC is about enabling victim-survivors to live free from domestic abuse, supported by a network of professionals dedicated to their safety and well-being.” Join us in celebrating the progress made and the work yet to come in creating a culture of respect, justice, and empowerment. Together, we can make a difference. 💜 #EmpoweringSurvivors #MARAC #VAWG #DataDrivenAdvocacy #DomesticAbuse #StandingTogether

Fixing a Broken System: Landmark Report Demands Action on Domestic Abuse The Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report, Shifting the Scales: Transforming the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Abuse, sheds light on the systemic barriers victim-survivors face and presents a hopeful vision for reform. A particularly alarming finding reveals that only 4% of police officers accused of domestic abuse have been dismissed, exposing a critical gap in accountability. Standing Together fully supports the report’s call for urgent action, including: ➡️ Re-establishing Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts (SDACs) to provide trauma-informed justice. ➡️ Investing in multi-agency responses to ensure no survivor is left unsupported. ➡️ Strengthening perpetrator accountability and embedding health-driven approaches to domestic abuse. Read the full statement: https://lnkd.in/dPFbNB57 As a public health crisis, domestic abuse must be treated with the urgency it deserves. We call on the Government to act decisively and implement these recommendations to deliver safety, justice, and hope for victim-survivors. We also want to thank the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for endorsing and highlighting the importance of the work we do at Standing Together. Together, we can transform the system for the better. Cherryl Henry-Leach, CEO, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse: “This report provides a clear roadmap for reform. The time for meaningful action is now.” Read the full report, Shifting the scales: Transforming the criminal justice response to domestic abuse': https://lnkd.in/eygbFgtm #DomesticAbuse #JusticeReform #TraumaInformedCare #PolicyChange #StandingTogether

We are proud to see the National Housing Federation’s National Domestic Abuse Group driving forward vital change in the housing sector’s response to domestic abuse. At Standing Together, we are honored to collaborate with this group, and we’re thrilled that Nicki Clarke, our Head of Housing, contributes to these efforts. Together, we aim to share best practices, improve perpetrator management, and ensure survivor voices shape the policies that impact their lives. We are looking forward to the upcoming webinar on 3 March and continuing to work alongside the NHF group to strengthen the sector's role in creating safety and justice for survivors of domestic abuse.

📢 Transforming Leadership in the Fight Against Domestic Abuse   Day 2 of the CCR Leadership Course is underway, with participants exploring transformative strategies for prevention and early intervention, acquiring tools to drive meaningful change, and exchanging insights to strengthen our Coordinated Community Response (CCR).   Here's what attendees are saying so far: 💬 "Really well delivered, clear, concise, and interesting content. I feel like I have learnt a lot that I will use in my work and to deliver meaningful impact." 💬 "I found the Evan Stark video really powerful and appreciated learning from peers in the VAWG sector."   This accredited, Level 4 course equips professionals to implement the CCR—a proven framework for addressing DA/VAWG effectively. Over 9 immersive days (spread across 3 months), you will gain tools to drive meaningful change in your organisation and community. This NCFE-accredited Level 4 course empowers DASV/VAWG Coordinators/Strategic/Commissioning leads, and others to reshape their response to DA/VAWG.    💡 Upcoming Course Dates: 🗓 May 13-15, June 17-19, July 15-17 (virtual) 💷 Cost: £2000 (10% discount for members: £1800)   Spaces are limited—don’t miss your chance to lead the change! Email ccr@standingtogether.org.uk to secure your spot today. Read more about CCR: https://lnkd.in/e5krhg_Q   #CCRLeadership #EndDomesticAbuse #VAWG #LeadershipForChange

✨ Training Impact Spotlight: Empowering Change in the Fight Against Domestic Abuse ✨ In 2024, we trained 1,084 delegates, and this year we have already supported 53 delegates to enhance their knowledge and skills in tackling domestic abuse. Together, we are making a difference.   💡 Upcoming Courses 📅 29 Jan: Writing Effective Case Notes to Identify and Respond to Domestic Abuse 👉 https://lnkd.in/dd4ZSUzM 📅 11 Feb: Identifying Domestic Abuse in Housing 👉 https://lnkd.in/dKmcJUN4 📅 20 Feb: Domestic Abuse Legal Tools and Powers Awareness: Giving Your Customers Choices 👉 https://lnkd.in/d6wZrbxm   ✨ Impactful testimonials: 💬 "Really knowledgeable, friendly team. The session was well-paced and kept my interest throughout—no clock-watching!" 💬 "This training helped me risk assess properly and provided invaluable insights into referring survivors to the right organisations. It reinforced the importance of empathy and making survivors feel safe and heard." 💬 "I learned useful techniques to provide support within legal frameworks and gained a deeper understanding of coercive control and the nuanced forms domestic violence can take."   Join us in equipping professionals with the tools to make a lasting impact in the lives of survivors. Together, we can create safer communities. 💜   #TrainingForChange #DomesticAbuseAwareness #EmpoweringProfessionals #SafeCommunities

💬 “Violence has no place in our communities, and there must be real consequences for those who cause harm. Accountability is not optional—it's a societal responsibility.” – Cherryl Henry-Leach, CEO of Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse In an exclusive interview, Cherryl Henry-Leach shares her powerful vision for tackling domestic abuse and reshaping societal responses to gender inequality. With a survivor-centred approach, bold leadership, and a whole-systems strategy, her insights remind us that change is not only possible—it’s essential. 📢 Discover how Cherryl is driving systemic reform and empowering communities to create a world free from violence ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eMjPBQMd #DomesticAbuse #Leadership #SurvivorCentred #EndVAWG #GenderEquality #SocialImpact