APPENDIX 71
Memorandum submitted by Everyman Project,
Families without Fear and Triangle
INTRODUCTION
Everyman Project is a charitable organisation,
which offers a counselling programme for men who want to stop
behaving violently or abusively, a support service for partners
of men on the programme, and advice and an information service
on male violence and abuse for professionals and the public. It
is one of the longest running organisations working with violent
and abusive men in London and the Home counties (over 10 years).
As a registered organisational member of the British Association
for Counselling and Psychotherapy all our counsellors work to
the BACP's Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling
and Psychotherapy, and are subject to the professional conduct
procedures.
THE COUNSELLING
PROGRAMME
Everyman Project provides a unique seven
month (30 weeks) integrative therapeutic counselling programme
consisting of 13 weekly one-to-one counselling sessions followed
by 16 weekly group counselling sessions designed to support and
challenge men to cease their violent and/or abusive behaviours.
The counselling programme integrates
cognitive, behavioural, humanistic and psychodynamic counselling
with educational approaches to challenge and change abusive and
violent attitudes and behaviours. Additionally it addresses the
emotional damage which underlies abusiveness to others. From the
outset, and throughout the work, the safety of the man's partner
or other victims of his violence is the first priority. All therapeutic
work takes place amongst the background of acknowledging responsibility,
developing the man's feeling capacity, extending his emotional
awareness and enabling him to develop greater empathy for others.
We work towards increasing the level
of motivation necessary for a man to come to terms with his feelings,
change his attitudes and take responsibility for his violence
via an approach that is essentially therapeutic in its nature.
KEY FEATURES
Everyman Project provides:
A unique 30 week integrative counselling
programme, combining individual and group work within our two
track model( see attached sheet). The two track model combines
cognitive behavioural and educational methods to change abusive
behaviours alongside humanistic and psychodynamic exploration
of each man's particular (subjective) experiences to help them
understand the feelings underlying their abusive behaviour and
their resistance to change.
A proactive service for partners of men
on the programme providing emotional support, practical advice,
and safety planning via post, telephone and face to face counselling.
An information and advice service and
website (5510 hits 06-07) for anyone concerned about a man's violence
or abuse.
Counselling venues in Archway N19, and
Elephant and Castle SE1.
We carry out an initial assessment with
the men to ascertain their commitment to change and their suitability
to participate in the programme.
We have four part-time staff (17.5 hours),
three of which are currently funded, one not, two P/T admin (4
hours) and 11 Unpaid Volunteer Counsellors (who are provided with
clinical supervision).
Key statistics for 2007 include: 2,000
client hours; 408 one-to-one sessions; 46 group sessions; (2.5
hours); 50 clients in the group; 50% of men unemployed (allowed
on the programme at reduced rates); 50% white British, 50% BME;
clients come from across London and Home Counties.
Also in 2007, 147 partners were helped
by the Partner Support Programme (144 female, 3 male). Including
children, a total of around 250 people were supported by the programme.
Our income for the last audited year
was considerably less than that of other organisations in the
field (less than 25% of Respect and 10% of DVIP). But the results
we produce are nevertheless impressive. We do front line work
with perpetrators that makes a real difference (see attached Testimonial),
to men, their families, children, and society, both directly and
in the costs saved through men changing their behaviour by social
services, housing, police, hospitals, prison services, GPs and
government. However, it has proved increasingly difficult to obtain
funding for this project through our traditional sources, charitable
trusts. We have made significant attempts to diversify our funding
base, including to arms of both local and central government,
but so far none of these have yet provided any funding:
— We spent nearly two years
getting Perpetrator Programmes onto the funding list from London
Councils, meeting most of the criteria for approval not just related
to Perpetrator programmes.
— London Councils allocated
£100.000 for 33 London boroughs, but gave this money to second
Tier support services. which we do not need. We need direct sustainable
funding over a long enough period for planning (Three years at
least).
— There is at present only one
trust, Tudor Trust that is funding/supporting all three of our
organisations.
— We are all told by Government
offices that we approach that there is no funding available for
our sector.
— We are all told by local Government
offices that we approach that there is no funding available for
our sector.
— The London Councils will not
fund us?
The Mayor of London's Second Domestic
Violence Strategy launched in 2005, cites "interventions
with domestic violence perpetrators outside of the Criminal Justice
System (CJS)" as one of its key priorities for development".
(Page 10)
The National Domestic Violence Strategy
Delivery Plan—Annual Progress Report 2006-07 states that
"Perpetrator programmes outside the criminal justice system
(CJS) are growing in importance . . .".
There are five Perpetrator Programmes
running in London (GLDVP Figures).
We need Government funding that is ring-
fenced specifically for Perpetrator programmes that are working
to the most modern, effective practices, accountable and which
are monitor-able.
We are strong advocates of the now widely
accepted (in Europe ) TWO-TIER approach to working with perpetrators
(see attached sheet) as the most effective intervention for change
in men.
If the Government wants to include the
Voluntary sector we need Funding, otherwise good quality services
such as ours will no longer available. Given the current crisis
in funding, that will be sooner rather than later.
— We at Everyman are concerned
that organisations like "RELATE" are being misguidedly
directed to implement Perpetrator programmes using the outmoded
"Deluth" model of working with violent men.
— We are concerned that the
same is true of the Probation services, IDAP, and local councils.
— We are concerned that an organisation
that sets itself up as an umbrella organisation for best practice
does not vet its members and allows organisations membership to
organisations that do not meet its own basic regulations.
— We are concerned that there
is a general thinking that a perpetrator programme can be set
up after one or two weeks training for its workers.
— We are concerned that it appears
that only input from one Perpetrator programme and one second
tier organisation is taken as the only way of working with violent
men that is why we ask this committee to think "out of the
box" to get the best possible, most effective programmes
working to help men change their violent and abusive behaviour.
— We are all very willing to
present orally our concerns to this committee.
THE MINSTER
CENTRE—FAMILIES
WITHOUT FEAR
DOMESTIC ABUSE
PROJECT—MARCH
2008
INTRODUCTION
The Families Without Fear Project ( FWF),
based at the Minster Centre Psychotherapy Training Centre in the
London Borough of Brent, has just completed a 2½ year pilot
as a research and development project, initially funded by the
DCSF Strengthening Families Grant. FWF is receiving referrals
to work with perpetrators and survivors from all over London and
surrounding counties, from a wide variety of sources.
The initial funding has finished. FWF
recently secured grants from several charitable trusts to carry
on for the period of March 2008-09, but thereafter the future
sustainability of the project remains very uncertain. Despite
an enormous amount of effort to implement a sustainable funding
strategy, FWF has been unable to secure any longer term commitment
to support the project's work from any central or local government
sources.. The Minster Centre is heavily subsidising running costs,
and is currently spending £105,000 per year to run FWF.
Between September 2006 and March 2008,
FWF recorded over 375 enquires about the work of FWF and 185 direct
requests for client services. The project has been in contact
with approximately 230 clients at some stage since January 2006,
of which 111 were perpetrators and 119 survivors, with the first
set of clients just completing the year long perpetrator's programme.
The project is open for three days a week, staffed by part time
and Sessional workers. FWF has the capacity to work with approximately
25-30 perpetrators and 25-30 survivors at any one time, with two
separate programmes for men and women offered on two separate
days for safety.
The key objectives of the Families Without
Fear Project are:
(a) To promote the safety of survivors
and children, this is the overriding priority and fundamental
to our work.
(b) To reduce the recurrence of domestic
violence and abuse (be it physical, emotional, psychological,
financial or sexual) by working educationally and therapeutically
with perpetrators, with the aim of changing their long term behaviour
and attitudes.
(c) At the same time, to provide linked
support services to partners and ex-partners in order to monitor
their safety, increase their choices and improve psychological
and emotional well being.
(d) To work in partnership with DV
forums and other strategic networks to raise awareness of DV,
the role of FWF and intervention programmes.
(e) To develop innovative training
materials based on our model, informed by our research results,
to promote good practice.
THE PVAR (PREVENTING
VIOLENCE AND
ABUSE IN
RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAMME)
PVAR is for perpetrators who want help
to stop their violence and abusive behaviour. Perpetrators may
self refer or be referred by outside agencies. PVAR includes intake
and assessment, individual therapeutic support, group work and
post group follow up work. The PVAR now contains separate programmes
for male and female perpetrators. We believe we may be the only
project in the UK offering this service to female perpetrators.
THE SURVIVORS
OF ABUSE
PROGRAMME (SAP)
The SAP offers individual safety planning
and therapeutic support, working face-to-face, and for survivors
unable to attend, telephone support is arranged. SAP offers workshops
and group work when resources permit. Survivors who's (ex)-partner
is on the PVAR programme will automatically be contacted by SAP
and will be kept informed of the partner's/ex-partner's progress
and attendance on the PVAR programme.
The Survivors Programme is also available
to a limited number of survivors whose partners are not involved
with the PVAR Project, and contains programmes for both male and
female survivors.
DEVELOPING A
NEW MODEL
We have drawn on a number of theoretical
approaches, based on the latest thinking in sociology, psychology
and neuro-biology to create an innovative integrative model for
the understanding of, and tackling of domestic abuse and violence
in relationships. FWF is unique in that its service, whilst allied
to RESPECT and other national and local domestic violence forums,
has remained committed to thinking "outside the box".
We are finding that some of the families
coming forward for FWF's services may be different to the usual
DV cases presenting to other agencies, as it is sometimes very
unclear at the assessment stage, as to who is the perpetrator
and who is the abuser, or this can change and shift over time
within the same family. There seems to be a degree of mutually
abusive behaviour in some of the relationships we are working
with. This is an area that we have identified as needing further
research.
CONSOLIDATION AND
EVALUATION
The project got off to an excellent start,
and early evidence is extremely encouraging, as client feedback
indicates that our work is effectively reducing violence and abuse.
"When looking at our client group as a whole
there is clear evidence from our assessments that we are now attracting
a much more complex clinical population. The more therapeutic
approach has also allowed us to engage in a more significant way
with these clients . . .".
... There is preliminary qualitative
evidence to suggest that our more therapeutic and less confrontational
attitude has helped both clients and therapists to establish better
working alliances/relationships. This we believe has enabled clients
to more easily engage in the programme, attend sessions on a more
regular basis and drop out on a less frequent basis. Although
our sample is still quite small, a preliminary quantative analysis
of the programme seems to support this belief." . . .
EXCERPT FROM
PVAR PROGRESS REPORT—ANDREW
O'DONOVAN, CLINICAL
MANAGER OF
THE MEN'S
SERVICE, APRIL
2007
FWF urgently requires stable core funding
and more time to allow delivery of the full programmes we are
pioneering, over a more sustained period. We are assisting people
to make huge and significant changes in their lives, and it takes
at least a full year or longer to get each perpetrator and his
partners through all the stages of our programme; and demands
skilled, intensive work. We are currently gathering evidence from
our clients and their partners about their views of the programmes,
and evaluating their short term effectiveness, but we still need
more time to see if the reductions we are already achieving in
abusive behaviour will persist over time. We hope to report the
results of our evaluation this summer.
TRYANGLE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PROJECT
A project of Trinity Methodist Church
Youth and Community Centre. We launched in March 2003.
TRYangle aims to increase the safety
of women and children who experience domestic violence and challenge
men's use of abuse and violence in their intimate relationships.
We provide help for men who are prepared
to change by attending one of our violence prevention programmes
and we offer support to their partners or ex-partners through
one to one professional counselling and information to improve
their safety.
The project also aims to educate and
offer training for professionals by raising awareness and early
intervention when working with their clientele who are in need
of the project's involvement.
What we do
TRYangle positively works with men who
want to stop their violent or abusive behaviour towards their
partners through cognitive based group work programmes (a thirty
two week programme). We currently have two groups operating once
a week, which are jointly facilitated by a male and female worker.
All female partners or ex partners of
men undertaking the group work programme are offered:
(a) one to one counselling by trained
counsellors who have specialised knowledge in domestic violence;
(b) professional advocacy support
including safety planning and quality information; and
TRYangle Project was developed and has
proven to be successful as it meets individual and community needs
(self and other referrals), challenges and changes men's behaviour
in a positive way, improves quality of "family" life,
enhances love and safety, reduces violence and abuse, supports
safety and well being of women and children, contributes towards
local authority/government financial costs and initiatives such
as London Domestic Violence Strategy, etc. The Mayor of London
Ken Livingstone acknowledged the innovative work which TRYangle
does to further the aims of the London Domestic Violence Strategy
and to make London a safer place presenting us with an award in
November 2006.
We believe this very valuable piece of
work must continue as it strongly supports individual and social
change. We currently have over twenty men on waiting list and
regular enquiries and expressions of interest to join programmes.
We have had over four hundred men access our services since our
launch in 2003. We received over 50 new referrals just within
a six month period—an excess of 100 potential clients (partners
and children). Safety planning plays a big part in the support
the women receive. Self referrals are received directly from men
wanting to change behaviour and wanting safe, healthier and happy
relationships with their partner. Men are no longer denying their
abusive and violent behaviour, wanting to take responsibility
and action to change by joining educational and cognitive based
programmes.
Local positive action includes the police
signposting men to us, giving our information to men directly
and through the Metropolitan Police Website, the Greenwich Community
Saftey Unit (CSU)—as part of Crime and Disorder Reduction,
signpost and refer men to us and Lewisham CSU are producing publicity
with TRYangle's details in recognition of local needs and concerns.
Social Services actively seek our specialist services. For example,
we undertake a thorough assessment of the father of children (children
on the "At Risk" register) and if appropriate, the father
attends our programme where we complete individual progress reports
and we also attend Core and Case Conferences to assist in determining
their level of risk to the child/children. There have been positive
cases resulting in children being successfully removed from the
"At Risk" register following our intervention.
The following highlights other examples
of support for our project based on research, needs and consultation
with beneficiaries: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Accident and
Emergency Unit; Citizens Advice Bureau's refer clients to Tryangle;
we attend the Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham Domestic Violence
Forum's, networking with many other agencies and contributing
to the overall aims of the Forum for women's safety; Victim Support
refer to us; DVIP Hammersmith refer to us; Probation, provide
the Pathfinder Programme for those men on licence from the courts
and refer men that are not on licence; Community Drug Project
and BAGRA (Bexley and Greenwich Alcohol) have reported need for
our services and signpost; Private and Health based Counsellors
refer their clients, Respect, (largest referrals via Respect!)
the national professional practitioners network have a National
Domestic Violence Help line and refer people who live in the South
East area onto us; Army Welfare have reported that soldiers sometimes
have difficulty settling back into family life require our services;
CAFCASS refer to us and seek advice on difficult cases. Our clients
come from Greater London, Kent and Essex.
The project also aims to educate and
offer training for professionals by raising awareness and early
intervention when working with their clientele who are in need
of the project's involvement and to support them in making effective
interventions with perpetrators of domestic violence.
TRYangle entered an agreement with BAGRA
(Bexley & Greenwich Alcohol Agency). We have been running
a men's programme at BAGRA in Welling since July 2007 with the
support of Triangle's women's services to help us get a better
understanding of the links between alcohol and domestic violence.
Stuart Cameron is the Project Manager
and will be happy to provide further information.
Contact details: Tel: 020 885 57564,
Email: stuart@tryangle.org.uk, TRYangle web site: www.tryangle.org.uk
This is one of many Testimonials Everyman
receives from service users who have attended our programmes:
EVERYMAN PROJECT
TESTIMONIAL
When I first came for my assessment on
10 February, I was desperately trying to save a relationship.
Since starting my one-to-one sessions,
and during my time attending this group, I have come to realise
that the relationship I needed to save was the one that I have
with myself.
I now realise that I was very unhappy
in my relationship with my ex-partner, Liz.
However, I lacked the confidence and
the skills to communicate this to her. I became more isolated,
more vulnerable, and needier as I tried to deal with the situation.
The gap between who I had become and
my true self was filled with anger, pain, and fear.
Instead of accepting responsibility for
and dealing with my feelings of vulnerability, I chose to be abusive
towards Liz and towards my daughter, Isabelle.
I now accept responsibility for those
feelings and for my abusive behaviour. I feel guilt and shame
for what I did and also for the effect that my abusive behaviour
has had. Both on my ex-partner and on my daughter.
I have learnt a lot during my time with
the Everyman Project.
I now have the practical skills to help
me avoid being violent or abusive.
— I am aware of my warning signs
and I now know how to keep myself and others safe. I now realise
that I can choose how I want to behave.
— I know how to look after myself
when I am feeling vulnerable.
— I can now work with my vulnerable
feelings rather than being afraid of them.
— I have worked hard to create
a more balanced and fulfilling life for myself.
— I have the confidence to communicate
assertively, and with empathy, to ask for what I want.
— I can say "NO" with
confidence and without guilt.
— I have challenged and changed
the beliefs that supported my abusive behaviour.
— I understand and accept my
rights and my responsibilities and understand how they are separate
from those of others.
— I have an understanding of
healthy family relations for the first time in my life.
Most of all, I have taken responsibility
for my behaviour and for my life in general. I feel positive about
my future and, perhaps for the first time, I see myself as the
"architect of my own life".
I have also come to accept myself and
to feel respect and compassion for myself. I am starting to heal.
I leave this group fully committed to
carrying on with the work I have started, painful though this
can be. I will continue to explore my beliefs and to learn more
about myself. I want to learn more about what is behind my thoughts,
feelings, and actions.
I will continue to work towards accepting
myself as a means of accepting others more fully.
I would like to thank all the men that
have attended this group since I started in September. I have
been inspired by your courage, by your honesty and by your willingness
to take risks.
I also appreciate the support I have
received from the group as a whole.
It takes a great deal of courage to accept
the need to change. I have the greatest respect for you all.
I wish you all well.
RESEARCH SUPPORTING
THE TWO
TRACK MODEL
OF WORKING
WITH PERPETRATORS
Sonkin (2007) comments that state laws
in the United States mandate the feminist re-education model,
based on the Duluth Model of power and control. Likewise the United
Kingdom is currently seeing the domination of the organisation
Respect, which is a government-approved organisation, that gives
specific guidelines and rules for the structure and methods used
within perpetrator programmes. Funding, for the predominantly
charitable organisations working with individuals who want to
change their violent or abusive behaviours, is often dependent
on perpetrator programmes working within the Respect guidelines
... This regulated approach to domestic violence has been developed
for extremely valid reasons, in order to hold perpetrators responsible,
to recognise the gender dynamic of abusive relationships and out
of a serious and well-motivated concern for the safety of victims
and affected children. However, whereas the rigidity and prescriptive
nature of this approach to working with clients may be effective
and suitable for some clients, it may neglect the individual,
his or her personal history and experiences and lead to disengagement
from therapy (Lundberg, 1990). As Sonkin (2007) argues, such dogmatic
models can make it difficult for alternative approaches and innovative
thinking to develop within this field as organisations are forced
to work under a pre-decided notion of best-practice. Lundberg
(1990) agrees "providing standardised treatments for all
abusive men and battered women must surely limit-perhaps even
prevent-positive therapeutic results"' (p 245)
There are some authors such as Lundberg
(1990), Grigsby and Hartman (1997), Wexler (1999) and Sonkin (2007)
who reflect the necessity of integrating these models. Lundberg
(1990) suggests the Two-Track Model for working with perpetrators.
She notes that it is vital to understand the dynamics of a particular
abusive relationship and an individual's intra-psychic triggers.
She also acknowledges that it is not possible to work with all
clients in an insight orientated manner as some clients need to
work, primarily, on managing their anger through cognitive behavioural
methods such as time outs and through psycho-educational techniques
encouraging clients to take responsibility for their actions and
change their attitudes towards women. She believes that the risk
of the standardised psycho-educational perpetrator programmes
is that a client will leave therapy if his personal issues and
individuality are not addressed. Wexler (1999) agrees
While insisting that men take full responsibility
for their abusive behaviour, treatment approaches can still be
effective by addressing inherent psychological issues. Group leaders
who can offer respect for perpetrator's history, their experience
of powerlessness, and their emotional injuries in primary relationships
are more likely to make an impact. (p 129)
RESULTS OF
RESEARCH STUDY
(FROM A
UNIVERSITY OF
ROEHAMPTON MSC
DISSERTATION) ON
THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF THE
EVERYMAN PROJECT
COUNSELLING PROGRAMME
— "The results from this
study indicate that the Everyman Project provides a vehicle for
change in violent/abusive behaviour as well as providing a positive
overall influence in the everyday functioning of the majority
of it's participants.
— "Participants revealed
that as a result of their experience of the Everyman Project their
domestic violence/abuse reduced significantly and the quality
of their relationship had improved.
— "Participants also revealed
that their capacity to be in a relationship and their ability
to maintain a relationship has also been enhanced.
— "Participants revealed
that as a result of their experience of the Everyman Project their
general abuse/violence reduced significantly.
— "Participants were able
to adapt various strategies to reduce their general violent/abusive
behaviours. These strategies included: `Recognition Of Warning
Signs', `Application Of Time-Out', `Resolution Of Past Events',
`Recognition And Expression Of Vulnerable Feelings', `Ability
To Empathise', `Increased Sense Of Responsibility', `Respect For
Boundaries', `Assertive Communication'.
— "Participants revealed
a sense of control over everyday agitation and stress (ie less
incidences of bottling up feelings and getting irritated by more
trivial things).
— "Participants revealed
an overall improvement in their everyday functioning and general
moods (ie improvement in self esteem and depression, more assertiveness
and improvement at work, improvement in friendships, more self
confidence).
— "The experience of the
Everyman Project was also reported to have encouraged further
personal developments such as enrolment on philosophy courses,
meditation and more time spent with family. In some cases the
experience of the program provided encouragement to stop drinking
excessive amount of alcohol and drugs which was reported to have
a life changing impact.
— "Participants revealed
the long lasting aspect of the program . . . from three
to six months after the completion of the program.
— "This integrative aspect
of the Everyman project makes it different from all previous treatment
approaches reviewed in this study. The Everyman Project also differs
from the Duluth model in trying to reduce men's violent/abusive
behaviour against other men as well as women. The focus is on
understanding and naming vulnerable feelings rather than suppressing
anger."
— Quotation from a participant:
"I think the first thing is that it is a huge shame that
there is only one Everyman Project in the whole of London, which
I think needs to be addressed. I think there should be an Everyman
at every borough and every town; I think there is definitely the
need for it. I don't think there is anything about the group that
I would change; I thought the group really worked well . . . The
exercises were great, the handouts were good and clear and well
written and the individual sessions were excellent and I benefited
from the whole experience. I didn't have to wait a long time to
get started and to be put on to the group . . . there is no reason
for me to criticise the good work the project is doing, obviously
if we had better premises and nicer place to come to would have
been great, and that was very difficult at times having such small
rooms, but I realise that the project has limited funds and that
is not always possible. My life was an absolute mess and I was
going towards complete self destruction, but I was saved by my
experience at Everyman and I wish the same for many more people
who I know are in desperate need of such a help by such an organisation".
March 2008
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