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Wednesday 21 December 2011

Christmas Greetings from Certain Curtain Theatre

Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2012!


Here's a link to the SCHOOL'S OUT 1-day events on dv and the impact on children - http://www.cctheatre.co.uk/schools-out.php might be of interest to colleagues.


And our twitter and facebook links are below - would love a few more followers and 'likes'

Best wishes

Claire Moore & John Woudberg
Director
Follow us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/cctheatreco
LIKE us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Certain-Curtain-Theatre-Company/169044229811812
Certain Curtain Theatre Company - Est 1989
21 years of Originality from the Page to the Stage
Unit 128, Oyston Mill
Strand Road, Preston. PR1 8UR
01772 731024
07753487984
www.cctheatre.co.uk

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Good News from East Lancashire Womens Refuge Association

In 2011 46 residents completed the Freedom Programme. 11 of those women were from minority ethnic background with bi-lingual workers supporting their additional language needs.
The Freedom Programme is run in the refuge continuously throughout the year.
Quote from a resident : ‘It was a pleasure to attend and we learned a lot about recognising abusive behaviour once we resettle.’

Monday 19 December 2011

Again!

A man has been charged with murder and arson after a woman was burned to death in a lift in her New York apartment building.

Another one!

A Polish man who shot his partner with a Taser stun gun and then buried her alive in a Yorkshire wood was found guilty of attempted murder on Monday

HOME STUDY COURSE FOR MEN

I have no more programmes planned for men.

Men who wish to improve their behaviour can now complete the 'Freedom Home Study Course' which must be used with 'Living with the Dominator'

WARNING
Men who want to buy the Home Study Course should read the free chapters which are available to download on my site. Men who buy the books without doing this and consequentially have a tantrum will not get a refund.

ASSESSMENT
It is essential that their partners attend the Freedom Programme for women if they are still together. The only person who can judge whether a man has changed is his partner or former partner. If he continues to use abusive tactics he has clearly failed the course.

HANDY HINT FOR DEALING WITH ABUSIVE MEN
Never have conversations with them about their behaviour! They talk nonsense and they will get worse if you listen to them. This is why 'counselling ' can make them even more abusive.

WELCOME FEEDBACK FROM A MALE READER
‘I recently split from my long term partner due to my unreasonable behaviour.
i have been reading your book living with the dominator and it has opened my eyes to just what a horrible person I have become.’

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Good news!

I have just heard from one of our facilitators that two women on her programme had their children returned from care last week.

Monday 12 December 2011

Another Domestic Violence Murder!

Police have launched a murder inquiry after the bodies of two adults and two boys were found in a house.

Richard and Clair Smith and their children Ben, nine, and Aaron, one, were found in a fire-damaged upstairs bedroom of their house in a cul-de-sac in Pudsey, near Leeds, late on Sunday afternoon.

Detectives are thought to be treating it as a case of murder/suicide. No-one else is being sought.

Saturday 10 December 2011

Who said feminists have no sense of humour!

Tired of cosmetic surgeons profiting from body hatred? Want to speak out against a porn culture that is driving more and more women to the surgeon’s table to get a ‘designer vagina’? Then join the Muff March!


WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
The number of women getting ‘designer vagina’ surgery is on the rise:

■Between 2007- 2008 there was a 70% increase in the number of labiaplasty operations carried out by the NHS
■In 2010 the Harley Medical Group received more than 5,000 inquiries about cosmetic gynaecology, 65% of them for labial reduction, the rest for tightening and reshaping
The increase in vaginal cosmetic surgery is being driven in large part by the ‘pornfication’ of culture and the beauty ideals peddled by the porn industry.

WHAT’S THE MUFF MARCH?
On Saturday 10th December we’ll be donning a muff and marching down Harley Street – famed for its cosmetic surgeries. Marchers will be speaking out against surgeons profiting from body hatred and raising awareness about the growing pressures on women to seek labiaplasty. We’ll also be drawing attention to the fact that demand for cosmetic surgery increases over the Christmas period.

And we’ll be staging a synchronised muff dance….

WHY ‘MUFFS’? We’ve taken inspiration from the Muffia – a fantastic feminist performance artist group. Proudly wearing ‘muffs’ is also a challenge to the porn norm of women having to remove their pubic hair.

JOIN THE MUFF MARCH!!!

Muff March Facebook group

Friday 9 December 2011

Another Domestic Violence Murder

Two adults and a child have died following an incident at a house in the East Midlands, police have said.

Leicestershire Police said they received a report shortly before 4.30pm on Thursday that a 15-year-old girl had been injured in Melton Mowbray.

She was taken to hospital and during the investigation officers forced their way into a house where they discovered two children and two adults with injuries.

A man, a woman and a child later died, and two other children are being treated at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham with serious injuries.

Thursday 8 December 2011

Facilitator Training in Cardiff

My licensed trainer Cheryl Bowen will be providing this training on 07.02.12 - 09.02.12. Contact her to book a place.
07753 787244
whcmbowen@ntlworld.com

Job seeker

A fully qualified Freedom Programme facilitator is looking for a job in the London area. If you have a job to offer her please e mail me and I will pass your message on to her. patcraven@btinternet.com
Not only is she qualified but she has a wonderful warm attitude.

Monday 14 November 2011

FREE FREEDOM PROGRAMME ON LINE

The free Freedom Programme is now online. To enrol click on this link
http://www.onespace.org.uk/elearning/courses/freedom-programme.

Wife attack judge James Allen sacked

A deputy high court judge who hit his wife during a row has been sacked for bringing the judiciary into disrepute.

James Allen QC was given a 12-month supervision order by District Judge Daphne Wickham after being convicted at Bradford Magistrates' Court in June.

A spokeswoman for the Office for Judicial Complaints confirmed on Wednesday that 61-year-old Allen had been removed from his post.

During the trial Allen claimed his wife inflicted injuries on herself.

Full story on BBC website - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15556456

Thursday 10 November 2011

HACKED

Please note my e mail address has been hacked. DO NOT open links which are supposed to come from me. I am actually here and can receive your messages.

ON LINE LEGAL ADVICE

ON LINE LEGAL ADVICE
Anna Brunt at Lewis Rogers Solicitors says :
We can offer an email service where victims of domestic violence can contact us.We need you to provide a contact phone number to offer this help.
Anna has completed Freedom Programme one day training event.
anna@lewisrodgers.co.uk

Monday 31 October 2011

The Freedom Programme goes Online

The Freedom Programme is now online. Follow this link to read all about it.
http://www.womensviewsonnews.org/2011/10/online-domestic-abuse-freedom-programme-goes-live/

The Author is Thelma Etim
Freelance Journalist
Co-editor, Women's Views on News
www.womensviewsonnews.org

The online Freedom Programme can be accessed on the Onespace website

"I'm Trapped" by Cameron Baird

Actor, lyricist, composer, musician and singer Cameron Baird, is currently on tour with Certain Curtain Theatre Company's original production of 'Mockingbird High', playing the character of 'Boy'. The play shows a shocking, but truthful and powerful performance about a mother and two children who are affected by Domestic Violence and Abuse.

Cameron says "My lyrics for the song have been influenced by reading 'Living with the Dominator' as research and stories I have heard during Domestic Violence and Abuse workshops when performing with Certain Curtain. This had a strong message which gave me the inspiration to write the lyrics for the song. All areas of performing including the scripts, songs and poetry are ways of storytelling. That is why I feel that as an actor and songwriter I am making a difference. These stories must come alive, because Domestic Violence and Abuse are not fiction but truth".

To see the video, please click this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUTUbUFyAHA

Thursday 27 October 2011

Evaluation “ Introduction to Home Study Guide October 2011”

Trainer Cheryl Bowen
Evaluation “ Introduction to Home Study Guide October 2011”

Q. How useful do you think this training will be in your work role?
“Extremely useful. It has enhanced my knowledge and understanding of how an abuser operates.”
“This training has helped me to improve my skills when working with victims of domestic abuse”
“Very useful”
“Completely useful as it will enable me to offer one to one support to women in refuge who can’t attend the groups.”
“Very useful to have this training on how to use the books.”
“Really useful to enable me to work with women on a 1-1 basis”
“Very relevant to my role – I am a front line person and regularly talk to women about domestic abuse.”
“Having completed the training to become a facilitator in 2005 this was an excellent refresher and useful to work with women who are unable to attend groups.”
“I feel able now to use this book with my service users.”
“Excellent for women who don’t have the confidence to go to the groups.”
“Very useful to help women recognise domestic abuse”
“It has enhanced my knowledge and given me an excellent tool to use”
“Fully useful”
Do you feel that the Freedom Programme is useful to your service users and why?
“Excellent tool for raising awareness “
“Helps women identify the characteristics of the abuser and understand what is happening.”
“The women who attend Freedom programme have a better understanding of what they have experienced and are stronger for future relationships.”
“Helps a woman to understand power and control”
“It enables service users to identify abusive behaviour”
“They can relate the dominator to their own experience and realise they are not alone”
“They can identify traits in new relationships”
“They can gain strength from the content and from meeting other women in similar circumstances.”

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Misogyny

Misogyny
Comments on recent news
Chinese toddler left for dead in hit-and-run crash dies
For decades the Chinese government have insisted that every family could have only one child. This led to girl children being dumped in orphanages at best. Clearly the drivers who ran over the child saw her as expendable vermin!
Policeman Sacked Over Bungling 999 Calls | LBC

Most of the calls mentioned on the radio report were from women!

Centuries-Old Rule Could Change, Allowing First-Born Royal Children to inherit the throne if they are girls.
The law as it stands allows boys to succeed to the British throne even if the eldest child is a girl.

Saturday 22 October 2011

Do you want to tell your story?

I work very closely with Thelma who has written some excellent articles on domestic abuse and the Freedom Programme. If you want to have your story told you can contact her.

Thelma Etim

Freelance Journalist

Co-editor, Women's Views on News

www.womensviewsonnews.org
Sent from my iPhone 07958567416
Thelma says:

I have 18 years experience as a news and current affairs journalist in print and online - which includes eight years writing for the BBC News website.
I am interested in writing in-depth news features/ features for newspapers and magazines about women who have suffered abuse.
In some cases, it is possible to remain anonymous but most magazines usually want pictures so you must be prepared to be photographed as well.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Saturday 15 October 2011

HELPING CHILDREN TO COPE

Many women print the Dominator and Mr Right graphics. They then put them on the fridge door. When the children use a tactic of the Dominator it is helpful to show them the graphic and ask them to identify which aspect of the Dominator they have just used.

Friday 7 October 2011

Law students to complete the Freedom Programme

Angela Jouanneau Lecturer/Tutor GDL & LLB
Is providing the Freedom Programme for her students at BPP University,
Waterloo SE1 9NN. The programme starts on 24.10.11. This means we will have a generation of Freedom aware lawyers.

AngelaJouanneau@bpp.com

Sunday 25 September 2011

Freedom Programme Leaflet from Cardiff Women's Aid

Cardiff Women's Aid have created this wonderful leaflet to advertise their Freedom Programme. This is the best I have ever seen. Well done all of you!

Friday 23 September 2011

Half day training on the Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children

Dear Colleagues

Many of you have told me how helpful and informative you found this event. However, this play is in danger of extinction. It is very expensive to retain, pay and rehearse these wonderful young actors. Unless more organisations book this event my colleagues will be unable to continue to provide it. So if you are thinking about commissioning this you need to act quickly.

Half day training on the Effects of Domestic Abuse on Children

Agencies can commission my marvellous associates Certain Curtain Theatre Company to provide the play ‘Mockingbird High’ followed by their after show discussion. This is an excellent half day training event which can reach a couple of hundred people. Here are their contact details:

cctheatre@yahoo.com
Claire Moore
Director

Certain Curtain Theatre Company - Est 1989
21 years of Originality from the Page to the Stage.

Unit 128, Oyston Mill
Strand  Road, Preston. PR1 8UR

01772 731024
07753 487984
www.cctheatre.co.uk

Saturday 10 September 2011

Coming Soon. Freedom Programme ONLINE

Coming Soon. Freedom Programme ONLINE

(SPAN) Single Parent Action Network will be providing this.

SPAN is a nationwide network of one parent families and organisations representing diverse backgrounds and cultures. Onespace hosts the other Official Freedom Programme chat room
Tel: 0117 951 4231
Email: info@spanuk.org.uk
Link: www.spanuk.org.uk
Link: www.onespace.org.uk

Friday 9 September 2011

Two more reviews

Thank you Tracy

Brilliant resource to use with the living with the dominator or on its own to help explain and explore the tactics used by those who use power and control to abuse others.
The home study Freedom Programme is also great for those who can not attend a programme or who just want to find out more about domestic abuse.
Thank you Clare

I am a great fan of the Freedom Programme & it's a tool I have used with success for many years; via direct delivery of a Freedom Programme support group, or training professionals, or used in supervision of case workers case loads.
The new addition of the Freedom Programme Home Study Course workbook is a fantastically accessible compliment to the traditional Freedom Programme format; be that groups &/or from having read `Living With The Dominator'. The Home Study Course workbook takes the reader through the familiar format of the group delivery, with the inclusion of the quiz, tactics, beliefs, affects & positive behaviour choices. For each section there is space for the reader to write their answer, thoughts & views, enabling everything the reader has learnt to be kept safely in one workbook, for future reference and reviews.
It has the flexibility to reach more victims/survivors, perpetrators & practitioners, to learn and understand the dynamics and long reaching impacts of domestic abuse, on the family unit, whether separated or still together, whether historical or current. The Home Study Course is appropriate for individuals to work through alone, or to reinforce the learning's of group attendance, enabling accelerated understanding.
For professionals this is a fantastic tool that can be used as a framework for their case work sessions with individuals or families. In my experience as a case worker & as a manager of case workers my knowledge is clear that as soon as work can begin to acknowledge and address the issues & impacts of domestic abuse be that with the victim/survivors (adults or children & young people) or perpetrators (adults or children & young people), the sooner the families or individuals are able to progressively gain control of their own lives in a positive way, or indeed, continue to live their lives. With the use of the Home Study Course the positive outcomes are more long term & sustainable.
I don't have any negative comments to offer on the use of this tool, the only adaptation I would request is if this workbook could also be made available in different size & type of font or if there would be potential to safely translate into other languages?

Saturday 3 September 2011

At last! Our first Amazon review for the Home Study Course from Cherylb
Thank you Cherylb

This book used alongside Living with the dominator builds into a unique personal record for the user. It brings the Freedom Programme to life and is set out into easy to understand sections. Women who have used it say that it has been invaluable to them in helping them to understand the programme. They said it was excellent to be able to read back over the weeks they have completed. Once women have worked through this book with a facilitator they often feel much more confident to attend a group. Well done Pat another excellent tool in the battle against domestic abuse.

Thursday 25 August 2011

Freedom in Dublin

Great news

There will be 2 programmes starting in Dublin in September. Our first in Ireland!

Saturday 20 August 2011

Clare’s Law and the Freedom Programme

Michael Brown whose daughter was murdered by a man she met on the internet is campaigning for this:
“Women who use the internet to seek boyfriends will win the right to force the police to reveal if they have a history of violence under plans being considered by Home Secretary Theresa May.”

I strongly support this move because it will give a message that at last society actually condemns violence against women. However I do not believe it should be limited to men who women meet on the internet.

Women need more information as well as  this law. We know that Dominators are very convincing and the women they  meet  need  to understand how they operate.

Clearly this is where the Freedom  Programme comes in. Women who complete the programme in its various forms say they can now recognize future abusers.

Friday 19 August 2011

Access to the Freedom Programme

Overseas visitors can access the Freedom Programme by downloading ‘Living with the Dominator’ and ‘The Freedom Programme Home Study Course’ by going to my LULU page.   

In the UK, I recommend that all women who attend the Freedom also obtain a copy of ‘Living with the Dominator’ and the ‘Freedom Programme Home Study Course’ before they start the programme.  This will enhance their learning and keep them safe if they are unable to get back to the programme again. You can order the books from the Freedom Programme website or from Amazon.
These books will also give women a guide as to how the programme SHOULD be facilitated. The books present the programme as I would run it. It is a way of giving them a tool to exercise QUALITY CONTROL. I have no other way of maintaining standards.

Wednesday 17 August 2011

My new blog

Thanks to my wonderful web master Joel for my lovely new blog.

Men who murder their female partners or former partners.

14.08.11
In my experience they ALWAYS plan this. It is usually a revenge attack because their partners are trying to leave them. They decide to kill then ‘wind themselves up’ until they are convinced that the victim is making them do this. They also kill the children for the same reason. There is a DVD clip in the ‘training’ section of my web site which explains this in more detail.

The people who looted and used acts of extreme violence across the UK in recent days followed the same process. They decided in advance what they were going to do then wound themselves up until they were convinced they had no choice and they were not responsible for their own behaviour. Much bolloxology has been aired in the media by people who do not understand the mechanics of violence. 

WELCOME FEEDBACK FROM A MALE READER

13.08.11

‘I recently split from my long term partner due to my unreasonable behaviour.
i have been reading your book living with the dominator and it has opened my eyes to just what a horrible person I have become.’

Advice

12.08.11

The Freedom Programme exists to provide information. I created the web site to do this. However I am only one person and I cannot respond to individual requests for advice by telephone. You can find contact details for your local programmes on the web site. You can download free chapters from 'Living with the Dominator' and the 'Freedom Programme Home Study Course'. You can also email me and join our discussion forum.

The cost of Freedom

12.08.11
When I wrote the Freedom Programme I worked for the Probation Service. They refused to let me run the programme so I was forced to leave the service in 2002. Now in 2011 I have lost 9 years wages. I also lost much of my pension. I have paid to print and publish the books and manuals and to set up the web site. I now have an income from training and book sales but I estimate that the total cost to me has been around £500,000.00. When I read the feedback from all of you who contact me to say the programme has changed their lives I consider that it has all been worth while!

Women's Aid chat room

08.08.11.
I have just been reading some comments on the Women's Aid chat rooms. Some women were saying that they had been to a programme and felt patronised. That should not happen and when I train facilitators they are taught not to do this and I tell them to stick to my mission statement.

I devised the Home Study Course so that anyone who completes it will have the expertise and knowledge to evaluate whether the programme she attends is being run properly. I wrote the programme to empower the women who need it and not to make them feel stupid.

Pat Craven

Kindle version of Living with the Dominator

A KINDLE version of 'Living with the Dominator' is now available from Amazon - click here

Forum

31.07.11
I have just been in to the forum and read the latest discussions. I am so glad the discussions are working so well and that you are all helping each other. Keep it up!

THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE ON CHILDREN

26.07.11
It is very important not to lose sight of the fact that you did not do this to the children but he did! The other thing to remember is that you left when you could and if you could have left before you would have done so! You are not to blame. You did your best.

Online weekly tutorial

24/7/11
I am inviting anyone who is working their way through the Home Study Course to join an on line weekly tutorial to discuss each section. This is in the discussion forum. Please describe what you have learned and share your reactions. We are now on section 3. Next week we will move on to Section 4. I will move the topic to a new section every week and then start the whole process again for new students to join in. No one has posted anything yet but I will keep doing this in case anyone does.

At the beginning of July I joined the last session of the Freedom Programme with Brecknock Women's Aid. It was great to meet all the women and they really inspired me. They all had been given 'Living with the Dominator' and the 'Home Study' so later on I sent a message to them via the staff asking them to review it on Amazon.
Last week I ran a 3 day training event in South Shields and met some superb people. We had lots of fun and of course the play 'Lady in Red' was great as usual.

Whenever I run a training event or give a speech I try to get the message across that if I am a woman in an abusive relationship it does not mean that I am stupid, poor or an alcoholic! Can I also remind everyone that I do not want anyone on the training who does not understand the programme. If anyone tells me they are 'struggling' I will ask them to leave. Such people make judgmental remarks which distress the other trainees. Part of my function as a trainer is to protect all the survivors who are training to facilitate the programme.