MY LIFE DOMESTIC ABUSE AWARENESS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

 

This is a 12 week programme (one session per week) suitable for local women who have experienced domestic abuse in their adult relationships. Typically,  a group will consist of up to fourteen women and is led by 2 trained female facilitators.  

 

Programme aims 

The aim is that women who have completed the programme will be able to:

• recognise and identify their experiences of abuse
• recognise how domestic abuse impacts on children and parenting
• identify support systems and feel less isolated
• develop their confidence in making safe choices and decisions about their future
• demonstrate their knowledge of their rights to access other support and information
• recognise and indicate their feelings.

 

Programme content

A combination of presentations, group discussion, individual and group exercises are used including Protective Behaviours and Risk Assessments. Boundaries such as confidentiality and respecting the views and differences of others are agreed and acknowledged each week.

 

Each participant sets their personal goals and has an individual learning plan. The programme is evaluated through self assessment, a midway review and evaluation completed on the last session.

 

Over the 12 weeks, participants will learn the following:

Week 1 What is abuse?

Week 2 Early Warning Signs

Week 3 How does it affect me? How do I cope?

Week 4 Why we stay

Week 5 My feelings, thoughts and behaviour

Week 6 Being safe, how might that feel?

Week 7 Choices and why we make them

Week 8 The power of words

Week 9 Personal boundaries in my life

Week 10 My parenting

Week 11 How might my children be affected?

Week 12 My life, moving on

 

Whilst attending the Programme women will be given the opportunity to access additional support, where necessary, including seeking legal and housing advice, starting one-to-one counselling or looking at support services for their children as a result of their increased awareness and confidence.

 

Referrals & accessing the Programme

Women may be referred to My Life by social workers, health visitors, family support staff and GPs or women can self-refer.

 

A one-to-one appointment to assess current risk, suitability for the programme and answer any questions is usually booked prior to being offered a place on the Programme. 

 

For referrals, self-referrals or to find out more about My Life please contact the Education Team on 01923 816 229 (option 1)

 

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