This week we’re sharing more about the incredible work of our domestic abuse perpetrator service. 

At Glow we’re on mission to address, overcome and end domestic abuse. This includes working with perpetrators to change their behaviour and prevent future abuse. 

In the last two years our perpetrator service has worked with 167 high-risk, high-harm perpetrators, delivering a total of 273 support sessions, both face-to-face and via prison video link.

This week the team have shared the story of Lisa*, who perpetrated domestic abuse towards her partner Sharon. Lisa took part in sessions to change her behaviour and create a brighter future for her 13-year-old son, Daniel.

Service Manager, Clare, shared the family’s story.

“Lisa and her ex-partner, Sharon, were together for just over a year.

“In that time there were eight incidents of domestic abuse, including coercive behaviour alongside financial, sexual and physical abuse. 

“Sharon fled the abuse and moved into a safe accommodation refuge. She also had a restraining order put in place against Lisa.

“Lisa was allocated one of our case managers, who worked with 14 different agencies including children’s services, mental health services and adult social care. This was to make sure there was as much support as possible in place for Lisa and her son.”

Due to the restraining order, Lisa and Daniel couldn’t return to the home that they shared with Lisa. They packed up their lives and moved house, which caused stress and anxiety for teenage Daniel.

“As a service, we’re here for the whole family.

“In Lisa’s situation, this meant supporting Daniel and making sure he was as settled as possible. We couldn’t do any behavioural change work with Lisa until then.

“The family’s new house was 30 miles away from Daniel’s school, so Lisa’s case manager arranged transport and got in touch with the school to explain the situation.”

Once the family were settled, work could start to change Lisa’s behaviour.

“When working with perpetrators of abuse, we always link in with other agencies and organisations. This helps us gain as much information as possible and builds up a support network for the family. For Lisa, we had to consider the needs of her teenage son.

“It also helps us to hold perpetrators to account for their past behaviour. In Lisa’s case, we worked with her to address coping strategies and help her understand her behaviour. Working with children’s social care also helped Lisa realise how her negatively her behaviour had impacted her son.

“Lisa and her case manager also worked through past trauma, as Lisa previously experienced abuse herself.”

Thanks to our team’s support, Lisa and Daniel are now more settled and looking towards a future free from abuse.

“Lisa hasn’t perpetrated any domestic abuse towards partners since Sharon. She’s engaged with behavioural change work and is also working with mental health services. Lisa and Daniel are now settled in their new home and working on new ways to manage trauma and understand what can trigger feelings of fear. 

“Lisa has a new partner, for whom a DVDS (domestic violence disclosure scheme) was applied for. Lisa is aware of the risks of her new partner and social care are aware of the situation.  

“There is still work to be done, but both Lisa and Daniel say they feel less depressed and less worried about things. Daniel is much happier and finding school less stressful.

“They are both unsure of the future, but one without fear of violence is now a reality. It’s one they are moving closer towards and looking forward to.”

Click here to find out more about our domestic abuse services. 

*all names changed