Life-saving victims’ project given funding by Cleveland PCC

A PCC-funded project is providing a safe space for women to recover together after domestic and sexual abuse  

The Freedom Programme, run by Eva Women’s Aid, is an 11-session group work programme. 

Each session offers a weekly place of safety, where women can share learn, heal, prepare and recover from domestic and sexual abuse.   

During the programme, they also identify the different types of domestic abuse and coercive control, which they have experienced.  

Women, who are living in dangerous and damaging relationships, learn from the programme that freedom from abuse is possible with robust long-term safety planning for themselves and their children.   

Previous participants have said they would “not be here today” if it had not been for the support of the programme. 

Support from the programme gave 42-year-old, mother-of-two Juliette* a fresh way of looking at her family’s experience of domestic abuse, alcoholism and mental health crisis. 

Freedom allowed Juliette to clearly see the level of abuse, which she and her family had suffered from her partner, and to realise that “abnormal had become very normal” within the family. 

It gave her the confidence to seek parenting advice, which helped her to see the family’s experiences through her children’s eyes. 

Some of the £7,500 PCC grant will also help towards funding two, follow-on programmes for women, who have taken part in the Freedom Programme. The programmes give additional, targeted support to victims. 

The EVA.Lution Programme helps women to re-build their self-esteem and confidence after domestic abuse.  

The You & Me, Mum programme helps mothers to understand their children’s experiences after domestic abuse. It also aims to boost parenting skills.  

*Juliette - not her real name 

Watch Juliette's story here: 

Protect and Support fund - Eva Women's Aid