The Freedom Programme
The Freedom Programme looks at the way that abusive men behave and what they believe about the roles of men and women in society. Although the programme features male characters, women in same sex relationships are welcome, as the tactics described apply to all abusers.
The aim of the programme is:
- To help women who have experienced domestic violence make sense of and understand what has happened to them.
- To recognise potential future abusers.
- To hep women gain self-esteem and the confidence to improve their lives, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess.
This is a closed programme running for 6 weeks.
These sessions look at:
- How the abuser maintains control.
- The tactics and beliefs of abusive men.
- The effect of domestic violence and abuse on any children living in the home.
- The sessions will also help women to understand that what has happened to them is not their fault, as well as providing them with the knowledge needed to protect themselves and their children from harm.
The Freedom Programme is free of charge and open to all women, regardless of age, class, ethic origin, disability, sexuality, nationality, religion or cultural beliefs. It is also open to women with or without children.
Please note this programme is not currently running. Please check back in April.
The Freedom Programme was devised by Pat Craven and is co-ordinated in Buckinghamshire by Aylesbury Women’s Aid. There is an online Freedom Programme available, please note this is not affiliated with Aylesbury Women's Aid.
You and Me, Mum
You and Me, Mum aims to empower and support survivors in furthering their understanding of their role as mothers by addressing the needs of children and young people who have also lived with domestic abuse.
Some of the key objectives are:
- To understand how domestic violence affects mothers
- To understand the effects of domestic violence on children and young people
- To develop effective communication skills with children & young people
- To promote healthy and non-violent relationships
- To explore key Protective Behaviour messages and strategies for keeping mothers, children, and young people safe
- Specific session include How DV affects mother, how DV affects young people, how to deal with challenging behaviour, how to support child with protective behaviours and safety planning
Please note this programme is not currently running. Please check back in April.
Power to Change
The Power to Change Programme is self-referral only and for women who have already completed the Freedom Programme or a similar programme.
The benefits of the course are:
- To increase understanding of the dynamics of abusive relationships.
- To benefit and draw strength from being in an environment with other survivors of domestic abuse.
- To gain coping mechanisms, techniques and strategies around assertiveness, being able to say NO, confidence building, dealing with authority figures, equal relationships, understanding and prioritising needs, understanding feelings such as grief, anger, guilt, shame, and fear, and implementing boundaries.
- To increase self esteem and self-worth, improve and encourage healthy relationships, benefit from being understood and heard by others.
The programme is closed and will last for 12 consecutive weeks. For a woman to benefit from the programme, she will need to attend all 12 weeks.
Please note this programme is not currently running. Please check back in April.
The Freedom Programme has made me feel less alone and more confident.
Being in a group of women who have experienced similar things helped settle my mind - that I wasn't going mad.
Attending this programme has opened my eyes to how abuse at home really affects your children. What to look out for in an abusive partner, identify the signs. I feel that I am armoured for the future.
MYTH
Alcohol
makes men abuse
Many people who drink are not violent. Many men are sober when they abuse their partners and the majority of abusers are not alcoholics. Some men use drink to deny responsibility and as an excuse for abuse. Many victims know that before the abuser starts drinking, they will become violent.
Women are 17 times more likely to contact police when a perpetrator is drunk or drugged because the abuser is less predictable. This contributes to a misconception that drink or drugs caused the abuse.
