We’re excited to announce that we’re partnering with Newcastle City Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria to launch the Make a Change programme in Newcastle.
Following a successful bid to the Home Office’s Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund earlier this year, we’re now working with Newcastle City Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria to plan the delivery of Make a Change’s community-wide, early response to domestic abuse.
Make a Change is a free behaviour change programme that helps people who are concerned that they’re hurting, scaring, or trying to control their current or ex-partner, and who want help to make positive changes for them and their family. The model was developed by domestic abuse charities Respect and Women’s Aid Federation of England, and is currently running in four other locations across the UK.
The project aims to offer support at the earliest possible point, often before other perpetrator programmes can, and ideally before the need to involve a professional agency, such as the family court, social services or police. This includes an offer of parallel, confidential support for partners and ex-partners, with a focus on their safety and wellbeing.
Once operational, Make a Change will be available to people over 18 who live, work in, or have a close connection to Newcastle. Over the course of the 26-session programme, participants will be supported to understand and take accountability for the impact of their harmful behaviour, to change it moving forward, and develop healthy relationships.
As well as working directly with people who are worried about their behaviour, and their partners and ex-partners, Make a Change offers support for professionals and the wider community. Local workplaces and professionals will be able to access free briefings and training to learn to recognise harmful behaviour in relationships, respond appropriately and refer into the service. An education and awareness-raising workshop will also be available to the wider community and anyone who is concerned that they know someone – such as a friend or family member – who is using harmful behaviour, to help them consider how to start a safe conversation that encourages someone to get support.
Rebecca Vagi, National Lead for Make a Change, said, “We’re delighted to be bringing Make a Change to Newcastle. By empowering whole communities to understand domestic abuse and how to tackle the root cause of the problem, we hope to identify people using harmful behaviour sooner, stop it continuing or escalating, and provide people with the support they need to make a change.”
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “I’m excited for Newcastle to be a part of the Make a Change movement. Our whole violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy for the region is about pushing for real lasting change. A key part of this has to be making those who commit abuse accountable for their behaviours and working with them, at the earliest opportunity, to do something about it. This is about improving the lives of individuals, families and the whole community.”
Cllr Paula Maines, Cabinet Member for a Resilient City, Newcastle City Council said: “I am proud that we are partnering with the Make a Change programme. It is a very positive step for Newcastle and is a key element of our work to tackle male violence against women and girls. This partnership shows our commitment to reducing the risk of domestic abuse for both adults and children as well as tackling the root cause of this behaviour. This initiative is key to identifying and engaging with those individuals perpetrating abuse and helping them to understand, identify and reflect on harmful norms, behaviours and dynamics in their own lives.”
Make a Change will be delivered as part of a comprehensive perpetrator response in Newcastle, alongside Northumbria’s Hub & Spoke model for high-risk, high-harm perpetrators and a flexible service offering needs-led support to ensure everyone can access appropriate help. All services include integrated support for people experiencing abuse. Over the coming months, we’ll work together to establish local delivery partners and put framework in place to open to referrals. For further information, please get in touch at makeachange@respect.org.uk.
