All trainees who attend these events are given 'Freedoms Flowers', 'Living with the Dominator' and the 'Freedom Programme Home Study Course'.
The Freedom Programme for Professionals Training (Worcestershire)
In June 2013 Worcestershire County Council commissioned the Stonham Domestic Abuse Service to deliver a free one day training course to raise awareness of Domestic Abuse and The Freedom Programme. The training provides an insight into the structure and content of the Freedom Programme to help professionals feel confident supporting women to attend the programme. Attendees gain knowledge on how to access the programme and other Domestic Abuse support services in Worcestershire. The course includes a module on the effects of Domestic Abuse on children; and a survivor of Domestic Abuse shares her story and experiences of Domestic Abuse and the Freedom Programme. Professionals from a wide range of services have attended the training, including Housing officers, Fire Officers, Counsellors, Solicitors, Children’s Workers, Social Workers, Police Officers and Health Workers to name a few.
Since Stonham’s Freedom Programme for Professionals Training was announced we have received a huge response from professionals in Worcestershire requesting a place. In response to the high demand for places on the course further funding was awarded to enable Stonham to provide additional places on the course. This means that a total of 415 professionals will access the training in 2013/2014. Stonham are working with The University of Worcester (Centre for the Study and Prevention of Violence and Abuse) to ensure that the quality and impact of the training is fully evaluated and we look forward to reading their report in 2014.
Here are some of the comments from those who have attended the course:
“Excellent, really informative and relevant.”
“The trainers were fantastic!!”
“I wish I could have had this training sooner and will be recommending it to our service.”
“I learnt so much about myself and the programme on the day”
“I feel more equipped to recognise ‘signs’ and try to empower my clients to make a change.”
Organisation: Stonham Domestic Abuse Service