Feedback from Family Groups Bedford

Raleigh Centre, Ampthill Road

BEDFORD       

MK42 9HE

Telephone: 01234 316801

Website: www.familygroups.org.uk

E-mail: admin@familygroups.co.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 18^th 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 4^th 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 1^st 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 13^th August until the 1^st September)

Feedback from SOCIAL WORKERS who use Freedom Programme ONLINE

The online programme costs £10.00 to purchase from my web site. Purchasers can use it 

as often as they need it. We are constantly adding new animations to make it more helpful to users with learning difficulties. 

Click here to see more infomation about the 
FREEDOM PROGRAMME ONLINE

SW Kelly

'i have been working through the 'FP on line' with a mum who has a 4 year old daughter on a Child Protection plan. Mum has been having casual relationships with risky adults and placed her 4 year old at risk of sexual abuse. Working through the online has enabled mother to understand how she has been vulnerable to abusive men, has ended all her relationships ... and is now able to safeguard and protect her daughter appropriately'. 

Siobhan SW

"working through the FP on line with a mother subjected to severe DV has resulted in her leaving her partner, protecting her five children .... preventing them from being taken into care'.

Mel SW

' I have been working with the FP online with a mother of 7 children (3-17years). Mother has been in repeated DV relationships. Working through the online slowly has shown mum how she has been subjected to abuse and sexual violence - and she is finally 'getting it' ..... that she has a choice?  She has now made her partner leave - and the children are much happier and healthier .... and the case has been de-escalated from Child Protection to Child in Need.

Sue SW

I have been working with a mother with the FP Online. The aspect of the Bully has really resonated with her and she has gained a great understanding and awareness of how she has been subjecting her children to violent and abusive men. She is now living alone with her children and the results are remarkable - we will soon be closing the case.

Martha SW

Working through the Sexual Controller with the FP Online with a mother who is a sex worker, has completely opened her eyes to how from an early age she has been groomed into believing she had no choice, other than to be controlled and dominated by men. Slowly she is awakening to the fact that she has a choice and is now working towards getting her children back!"

Caroline SW

I visit my individual families weekly and work through the FP online programme using an aspect of the Dominator week after week. It has amazing impact. The mothers I work with are now getting so much clarity on recognising the signs of abusive and violent relationships .... and are making more informed decisions about their relationships, which is preventing the department seeking legal planning? 

Feedback from women who have completed the course

'Only half way through and I already know it will be life changing'
'Until I did this course I had not realised how he had affected the children!'

Information about the Freedom Programme

What is the Freedom Programme?

We provide information not therapy. The Freedom Programme is a domestic violence programme which was created by Pat Craven who holds the copyright ( all rights reserved) and evolved from her work with perpetrators of domestic violence.

The Programme was primarily designed for women as victims of domestic violence, since research shows that in the vast majority of cases of serious abuse are male on female. However, the programme, when provided as an intensive two day course, is also suitable for men, whether abusive and wishing to change their attitudes and behaviour or whether victims of domestic abuse themselves. Freedom Programme examines the roles played by attitudes and beliefs on the actions of abusive men and the responses of victims and survivors. The aim is to help them to make sense of and understand what has happened to them, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess. The Freedom Programme also describes in detail how children are affected by being exposed to this kind of abuse and very importantly how their lives are improved when the abuse is removed.

Where is the Freedom Programme?

There are programmes across the UK and in Dublin. To find contact details for a programme near you click on the Search Section on the web site.

You can also contact our help line /help desk

01942 262 270  / info@idacnw.co.uk

What if there are no programmes in my area?

There are also links on my web site to  online programme and to the book section for the Home Study Course which is available from Amazon. Sales fund our charity. 

MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE FREEDOM PROGRAMME

   •    Any woman should be able to phone the contact numbers on my website and be told where and when the next session is taking place and whether crèche facilities are available. I do not endorse intrusive questions, referrals or risk assessments.

   •    Women must be actively welcomed to the programme.

   •    We never give advice or tell any woman that she should leave. If it were so easy we would have all left.

   •    Judgemental statements such as ‘I would never let anyone do that to me’ or ‘this has never happened to me’ are not acceptable.

   •    Facilitators refer to all women as ‘us’ and never use the dreaded words ‘These Women.’

   •    These programmes are only for the women who attend them. I do not endorse the presence of observers.

   •    Ideally, every woman who attends should be given a copy of the book ‘Living with the Dominator’ and the supplement ‘The Freedom Programme Home Study Course’ as soon as she arrives. This will enhance her learning. Clearly she will know if it is safe to take these publications home or to leave them in a folder with the facilitator.

   •    This programme lasts for 12 x 90 minute sessions. It is a rolling programme, so women who attend can miss a session and do it later when they are ready. Some women can take years to complete it.

   •    Session 4 is about the ‘Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children’. It is repeated in session 8. Facilitators who only want to run this once can shorten the programme to 11 weeks.