Raleigh Centre,
Ampthill Road
BEDFORD
MK42 9HE
Telephone: 01234 316801
Website: www.familygroups.org.uk
12/08/2015
Update on the Freedom
Programme
Family Groups have
been delivering the Freedom Programme in Bedford Borough for women since
October 2014. It was an in house service for the first 3 months although it was
soon apparent that there was a local need for the service to be expanded to
support any woman in Bedford Borough who has experienced relationship issues.
In January 2015, we opened the doors for referrals from partnership
organisations and started to deliver the ‘Introduction to the Freedom
Programme’ for professionals who wished to understand the programme and refer
women in to it.
We have trained 58
professionals over 3 sessions and will be hosting another course on the 18th
September 2015.
Family Groups have
3 trained facilitators who are all qualified and experienced trainers to
deliver the programme and to date, 44 women have attended from numerous sources
as you will see from the table below:
|
Organisation
|
Attended
|
|
BeNCH
|
20
|
|
IDVA
|
7
|
|
CAN
|
1
|
|
NPS
|
2
|
|
Social Services
|
5
|
|
Family Groups
|
9
|
At present, 11
women are on the programme with a further 5 starting in September 2015. It is a
rolling programme made up of 11 sessions so women can join at any time and if
they cannot make a session or need to put the programme on hold, they can
re-join or complete the next session which they have missed.
We are delivering
one session per week every Wednesday 1.00pm – 3.00pm. We decided to reduce the
weekly sessions from 2 to 1 as we have the capacity to support up to 20 women
in each session and found that one large group worked better than two smaller
groups.
Those of you who
have attended the Professionals training will know that the Freedom Programme
does not provide written reports on individuals who attend although we will
provide you with the number of sessions they have attended and if they are
engaging in the group.
We believe that
the decision not to write reports and track outcomes makes the group more
relaxed and improves the relationship with the women and their facilitators who
will not disclose their personal circumstances to others ( unless it is a Safeguarding
disclosure). We encourage referring agencies to stay in contact with the woman
attending the programme and discuss their progression and outcomes with them.
We do however,
have a guest book which women can write in (anonymously) at any time they wish.
Here are some of the excerpts from our book:
The Jailer – This session made me look back
on past relationships I was in and made me understand that I could not be his
rescuer. I have ended the relationship and am now healing. (Nov 2014)
Warning Signs – because of attending the
programme, I am emotionally stronger and I can recognise the possible signs of
a Dominator. This programme has empowered me as an individual and it is only my
4th session! (Jan 2015)
Freedom has given me the confidence to challenge
my partners’ behaviour before it escalates in to something serious. It has
helped me to approach some issues more rationally rather than just shout at
each other. (Jan 2015)
Having progressed through the programme
watching and listening to the other group members’, I can see the extent of
empowerment that the women reveal. (Feb 2015)
I have found the Freedom programme to be
very beneficial. It is so helpful to be with other women who are in a similar
position to me. Many thanks to all involved in the programme, it is invaluable.
(Feb 2015)
I’ve met some lovely, nice, good girls. All
going through the same s**t as me. Bless us and God help us to get on in life.
(Feb 2015)
I think this course is one of the best
things (organisation) has done for me by advising me to attend. It does good
for women to see and understand what women are going through. It shows us how
much we have put up with and teaches us to cope. (March 2015)
I love coming to the Freedom programme.
When I cannot attend it is annoying but when I come it makes me feel good after
like I have achieved something. (April 2015)
Freedom programme, Wow! What can I say?
What an enlightening and empowering experience. I thought that I had never been
challenged by DV before attending. I have come away feeling empowered and aware
with open eyes and an open mind. Thank you. (Aug 2015)
I hope that you
have found this short update useful and interesting. Please do not hesitate to
contact us if you would like any further information about the programme. We
will be sending out more information about the next Professionals training
course on the 1st September along with a booking form. Please be
aware that we were inundated with applications for the last event and have a
capacity of 20 maximum.
Lastly, thank you
for your help and support working with us. I hope that we have made a small
difference to some of the many women in Bedford who have experienced Domestic
Abuse.
Kind Regards,
Derry Dynes
Chief Officer –
Family Groups.
(The office will
be closed from the 13th August until the 1st September)
