Domestic Abuse Project (2021-2023)

Funded by The Mayor’s Office of Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and the London Community Foundation (LCF), Faith Regen is running a two-year programme in London (focused on Tower Hamlets), to support 80 women at-risk of or in standard-medium-high risk domestic violence through a range of services including:

• 1:1 case work (risk assessments, journey plan, safety planning, IAG, etc.)
• Information Advice and Guidance in benefits, housing, social services, employment, education and training, and financial management.
• 1:1 intensive emotional support
• 8 hours of fitness sessions to improve physical health and boost women’s empowerment
• Bi-lingual specialist counselling for women with increased needs
• Referrals and signposting for cases that involve: immigration, IDVA, social services, housing, education and employability etc.

As of 2022, FRF has supported over 42 women to overcome the trauma of domestic violence with exceptional cases of support provided to women.

Case Study (all cases are anonymised), March 2022:

SA has been a victim of DV for over 10 years and has not had the courage to speak or disclose it as she felt she couldn’t trust anyone. SA was referred to FRF by her friend after lengthy conversations and persuasions in November 2021. SA was very hesitant and reserved to disclose any information. After four conversations SA started to build a rapport and was able to slowly open up. SA was very clear that she did not want to leave her perpetrator as she has 4 children with him because he played an active role in the children’s lives. FRF ensured that whatever decisions SA decided would be respected. SA was feeling very low mentally; she was referred to the FRF DV awareness sessions and her perception on DV changed dramatically. FRF supported SA with weekly emotional support sessions and referred SA to local community groups to tackle isolation and support her to stay positive and safe. SA was a lot more confident in speaking about how she was feeling, more stable and stated she had more control over situations and making decisions. Throughout SA’s journey she stated how she never thought there was a service out there that could support her at her own terms and make her feel this comfortable. She was very grateful that she was being listened to and the ultimate decision was always left up to her to make instead of being coerced to leave the perpetrator. When we closed the case, SA was a lot more independent and courageous to keep herself and the children safe whilst she decided to pursue her marriage. SA stated she was more than happy to escalate if things got worse knowing that FRF is a service that will support her throughout her journey.