- Freedom Programme CommentsYour comments and suggestions are very important to us, please share any otherinformation about your experience of attending the Freedom Programme: I am so glad I attended and have been inspired to give back to other in similarsituations. It has been an eye opener and helped me move forward from certainissues that have been holding me back!!! We'll done and thank you x Life changing, so supportive, confidence boosting. Can't wait for the next group. This Programme is a really life saver! It should be advertised and provided morewidely! I learn a lot from the freedom programme Very helpful programme This helps you to see you are not the only one. the group gets you to reflect andhopefully future courses will help me to move on. I feel that if I was offered the freedom project in 2000 I would never have gone backto my ex partner This programme is the best around I just wish more people were aware of it. Freedom ladies are fantastic am so glad they were brought into life they have savedme and made me feel the happier and stronger person i am today!! I am a much stronger,confident individual. I have become a better parent and allround better person. Thank you for helping me to understand the risk to myself and my children and forhelping me to understand his tactics and that i am not to blame Really enjoyed it and have gone on to other courses. More confident Having familiar faces delivering is a benefit A Group for us all to find people who have become our friends Power & control wheel extremely good. The card that shows on 1 side abusiveperson & the other side the non abusive person., the helplines & phone no's Infoseeking & leaflets Fantastic training and supportive support workers. thank you for all you have done. I think all teenagers in the country should do this programme. My life would havebeen so different if I had done this as a teenager. Fantastic programme really helps you understand his motives and makes yourealise that it's not your fault The Freedom Programme is life changing and is delivered in such a positive way. Itis the best help I have received and Jacky and Donna are my hero's, helping meand so many others in my situation, move forward in their lives. It made me realise that I was suffering abuse and an understanding why I felt theway I did and why I did the things I did to survive it is an amazing program and Ibelieve it saved my life and changed it fir the better Thank you, thank you domestic abuse remains the biggest public health issue insociety . We need the freedom programme to continue every where. This work iscritical for future generations of women and children. meeting people going through the same thing is really good. I have learnt to spotsigns and feel better about myself Absolutely changed me, I'm more confident and out going. I don't think my life asempty and useless.What was the most helpful part of the Freedom Programme?
- It has been good to learn I am not alone and that it is not my fault. I didnt have anyidea i was a victim of domestic violence. I now know I was abused and I know allthe signs to look out for of an abusive man thank you to all involved in making me have this extra knowledge I am very grateful.Before the course I was unaware of the signs and that's why the social worker gotme to come this course has helped me feel good and don't get a bad bloke again. we had alaugh and that makes you feel good. It has made me stronger and feel good :) Felt safe and learnt to never look back and concentrate on the future. All sessionswere good because when your in an abusive relationship you don't realise what ishappening. Was good learning I'm not the only one going through it. The programme helped me realise that I am a strong person and don't deservewhat I have been through and I now feel strong enough to find a trustworthy man!that is not abusive Thank you! Feel better because I have met and befriended women who have been through thesame as me. has been helpful to listen to other women's experiences . my outlook has changed in every way i feel much better about myself the course is a life saver! the course has has made me aware of all the tactics. it stands out like a sore thumbto me since doing this course. I can spot dv/abuse straight away in someone else doing the freedom programme has made me better aware of what to look out forand has given me back my confidence and self esteem. Helped me find help withsorting contact with my children, enjoyed every session This was a great course, I feel a lot better with my choices and in my self. thanksladies the programme has made my thinking stronger and clearer . I now know i am not on my own and i am able to spot abusive behaviours in othermen and people I am much more confident. I loved the course. I learned a lot, I got a lot ofencouragement. Has been good to learn new things Friendly people who attend. Looking at the tactics and warning signs are useful inprotecting me in the future. I am so much stronger since i've been away from myabuser strongly think the freedom programme has helped us all that attended. I willremember all that I have learnt on the freedom programme and I will continue touse it in my life The course has really helped me to notice abusive behaviours inother people. I look at relationships differently I have achieved so much. the course has help me stay separated from my abuserand make sure my son's safety always comes first. course was a very good course, it was fun very understanding tutors very friendlypeople always happy to help at the beginning of the course when I started, I feltembarrassed but was ok and made to feel comfortable. Feel so much happier and so glad I came and stuck with it Thank you for helping me survive Excellent programme has helped me to move forward and leave the past behind That it's not just you going though it Realising there is a lot more than just the physical side of abuse
- learning about me the support from the group and the ladies running the group learning the traits and tactics of abusers Realising i was in a domestic violence relationship also helping me gain confidencean self worth. Realising the abuse wasnt my fault the rules of the game Warning signs Peer support everything That it is abuse Spotting that it is abuse & can go to Police if assulted Support of jacky and donna Learning it weren't my fault The fact that you can discuss it with others and learn together Persuader Learning that it wasn't my fault. finding out your not alone Learning the different types of abuse it's not just physcal but mental aswell exploring the different tactic's used by abusers all of it and meeting people learning about the tactics abusers use the members the whole course learning me more about dv talking about the different tactics and warning signs. all of it it , but liked the looking at warning signs all helpful discovering i was not the only one in this and others going through same realising and learning about abusive men, enjoyed headworker, persuader and liar learning and gaining knowledge - I've learnt things i didn't know or recognise. the quiz at the start of the group The fact i wasn't on my own and other women had been through this finding out more about the ways of abusive men all of it. It was fun and the people were friendly all of it all areas. i like that i was not alone and other women have similar or worsesituations with their partners or husbands learning all the tactics we are encouraged to think in a positive way to realise the signs looking out for early warning signs for domestic abuser to spot signs of dv because i'm having my son. I like the fact that you don't pansyaround the early warning sign's i liked the role play about our new man traits of the dominator, learning that i am not to blame, this is not my fault it teaches me to understand abusive behaviours Effects on children the warning signs
- learning the different tactics of the dominator and the warning signs 60 that every session although it was tough it was made fun and we got through it.Very supportive group learning all the warning signs and learning what I went through was abuse listening to other women who attend the programme Recognising the abuse and getting help when I needed it. All of it Meeting other women who have experienced abuse Rules of the game Role playsWould you recommend this programme to someone else?Please explain why you would or would not refer other women to the programme: This programme is valuable for any woman to help build confidence awareness andtalk openly and safely about experiences helps women recognise abusive signs It's so supportive and helps you to realise you are not alone and that you're notgoing crazy! It's helpfull and it can change your life Already have done Gets your confidence back Because it makes you a different person Could save your life I already have Victims need more understanding of what has happened to them to enable them tomove forward. without a doubt this is one of the best things I have ever done in mylife. it is filtering through to all my relationships it has been very valuable and worth while experience. I have a cousin who has apartner who presents as a perpetrator and I have suggested that she should attendas she would find it extremely helpful i think it is important we all learn about domestic violence sometimes we don't evenrealise were been abused it is excellent for them to know about domestic abuse I have told other friends and they want to access it too knowledge and awareness are strength i have friends who need this course cos it would make them feel better about themselves in every session its helpful and friendly yes i would as its helped me and i know other women will benefit from it very good course, have done any women who's been abused should do this course so they can see the signs and ultimately could finally get away because it helps women helps to reduce isolation and the tutors can do safety planning if you need help toleave because it changes the way one is thinking. boosts your confidence that your notalone and there are other people also going through abuse.
