Taking Breaking Down the Barriers to Greater Manchester
Jemima Olchawski and Donna Covey, Chief Executives at Agenda and AVA, discuss the need for the findings of our Breaking Down the Barriers report to be taken into account in policy and practice.
The final report of the National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage, Breaking Down The Barriers, warns of devastating consequences for women and their families because they are not able to get the support they need.
Chaired by Baroness Hilary Armstrong, the National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage brings together leading experts from a range of sectors including:
- Dame Gill Morgan, former Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government
- Vivienne Evans, Chief Executive of Adfam
- Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Director of the Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research at Heriot Watt University
- Marai Larasi, Executive Director of Imkaan
- Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the South East of England
- Dominic Williamson, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at St Mungo’s.
The Commission was established by AVA (Against Violence and Abuse) and Agenda, and kindly funded by a grant from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales.
Peer research
As part of the Commission, a group of peer researchers interviewed women with lived experience which has formed the basis of the report Hand in Hand. Read the press release here.
Community of Practice
The Commission’s community of practice on women’s multiple disadvantage met throughout the project to share best practice about supporting women affected by abuse and multiple disadvantage and feed into the Commission’s final report. The community was made up of thirty-five professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise on a range of issues including violence against women and girls, substance use, mental health, involvement in sex work and survival sex.
Launch event: National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse and Multiple Disadvantage
Agenda and AVA (Against Violence and Abuse) took the findings of Breaking Down the Barriers: The National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage to Greater Manchester. In an event that brought together women with lived experience, practitioners and experts from across sectors to discuss the recommendations of the report and ensure systems and services worked for survivors of violence and abuse. The Deputy Mayor of Manchester attended and wrote about it here.
Following this event, Agenda and AVA (Against Violence and Abuse), with futher funding from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, worked in Greater Manchester to take forward some of the recommendations made by the National Commission. Read more here.
