Big Lottery Fund
Gwent Domestic Abuse Services –
case study
January 2016
Project information
Gwent Domestic Abuse Services
Grant: £381,193, November 2011
http://gwentdas.co.uk
Blaina, Blaenau Gwent, Wales
Cath James, Project Manager
Background1
Established in 2002, Gwent Domestic Abuse Services (GDAS) provides support for those
affected by domestic abuse within the borough of Blaenau Gwent, South Wales. Both
male and female victims of domestic abuse, including those in same-sex relationships,
visit the service, which also works with perpetrators, including young people aged 11
years old and above.
In South Wales, domestic abuse accounts for 6% of calls to the police, and 8% of all
recording crime. When GDAS was first launched, there was no dedicated domestic abuse
support service operating within the borough of Blaenau Gwent, which is home to around
70,000 people. GDAS estimates that since it was set up in 2002, it has worked with
around 4,000 people affected by domestic abuse.
Project activities
The service receives referrals from a range of statutory agencies in Blaenau Gwent. It
currently runs two group sessions through its Phoenix Programme;
 The Knowledge programme which is intended to help people understand and define
domestic abuse.
“When I first came to these group sessions, I didn’t really understand what
abuse was. But I’ve learnt here that it’s so much more than just the physical
side, and it’s made me realise just how damaging my last relationship was.”
Gemma, service user
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Throughout this case study, names have been changed to protect the anonymity of those who contribute.
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Big Lottery Fund
Gwent Domestic Abuse Services – case study
 The Changes programme which works with people to change negative thoughts and
behaviours into a new pattern of controlling their lives.
Those taking part also have access to one-to-one support from Independent Domestic
Violence Advocates (IDVAs). Groups range in size up to about a dozen participants.
“She [the IDVA] has been such
a help. She’s helped me get a
decent response from the
police, and helped me work with
social workers to get access to
my kids again.”
Charlotte, service user
GDAS runs group sessions for a wide range of people
who have been affected by domestic abuse
Alongside the Phoenix Programme, the service runs group sessions for perpetrators of
domestic abuse. This programme is a bespoke programme, based on the experience of
Luke, the service’s perpetrator support officer, who had worked for the probation service
prior to joining GDAS. The programme involves two hours of group sessions per week,
which integrate aspects of cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness. More complex
individuals receive one-to-one interventions. GDAS also works with young perpetrators of
domestic abuse, aged 11 years old and above, through its Youth Respect programme.
Luke’s case load is around 30 people at any one time.
The following is based on case-notes from a 2015 evaluation report of GDAS.
Rhys was referred to GDAS at the age of 12 for verbal aggression towards his mother and physical
violence towards his father. After missing several initial appointments, GDAS’s Youth Respect Worker
Lindsey arranged to meet him at school. Across three school appointments and a home visit, Rhys and
Lindsey identified that his behaviours stemmed from a lack of self-control and loose parental controls.
Working with Rhys and his parents, Lindsey helped them to address these issues, and at their last
meeting Rhys reported much less tension in the household.
User engagement and involvement
GDAS places a strong emphasis on gathering feedback. All service users are asked to
complete evaluation and feedback forms, and feedback is regularly discussed during
group sessions.
In the past, people who had completed the
Phoenix Programme established a third stage
group which would meet informally. They wanted
to give back to the service. They took part in a
range of awareness-raising activities, including
speaking to local media and visiting events in the
borough to raising awareness of GDAS and the
services that it offers.
People who had completed the Phoenix Programme wanted to give back to GDAS, running awareness and
fundraising events. This photo shows them running a stall at a local fair.
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Big Lottery Fund
Gwent Domestic Abuse Services – case study
Outcomes and impacts
GDAS measures outcomes for individuals participating in the Phoenix Programme by
using the Insights tool developed by SafeLives, the cost of which is covered by an
external, Gwent-wide service. For the perpetrator interventions offered by the service,
they use a bespoke outcome measurement tool.
The service has close links with Cardiff University, which has undertaken several
evaluations. As a result, GDAS is able to demonstrate clear progress towards improving
outcomes.
A recent evaluation report gives qualitative data on how GDAS has changed the
behaviour of people taking part in the Phoenix Programme:
“Now I’ll phone the police. Before I wouldn’t, I would have felt it was wrong of
I’d be too scare, but now I will. I’ll phone the police.”
“Now I can say no to people. I don’t just give her money anymore just before
she wants it.”
“I buy things for myself, I never did before I would always think I should spend
the money on someone else, for something they needed. Now I will treat
myself.”
Sustainability
The future of GDAS is dependent on the outcome of a number of funding applications. In
addition, the team has been working with a consultant from the Lloyds Foundation, who is
helping to develop a long-term funding strategy. Elements of this may include increasing
the service’s focus on delivery of commissioned training, as well as expanding into other
areas of commissioned services, such as tendering to provide perpetrator interventions for
the probation service, court reports for child protection teams, and early intervention
programmes for the courts.
Learning
Cath, the project manager, was keen to encourage other services to embrace new,
innovative approaches to working with individuals affected by domestic abuse. In her
view, this makes the project more appealing to funding agencies. As long as these
approaches are measured, they also contribute to the overall understanding of how best
to tackle domestic abuse. Innovation also enables the development of increasingly
effective programmes which can work with individuals affected by domestic abuse in a
way which is tailored to the specific local needs of each service.
All of those working at GDAS believe that one of the reasons for the service’s continued
success has been its willingness to take a flexible approach, constantly incorporating
feedback from service users into the work it does. This has led to the development of a
service which is not only based on evidence of what works, but is also well suited to the
specific needs of the area and its population.
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