Women's Freedom Programme
The Freedom Programme was developed by Pat Craven, a woman who had worked with abusive men in Birkenhead for many years in her capacity as a Probation Officer.
In the course of her work, she realised that whilst the men were receiving help regarding their behaviour etc. there was a lack of services for the female partners of those men.
In response to this need, she designed a sister programme for women to help them to identify the nature of abuse, the tactics used and to enable them to understand that they are not responsible for the abusive behaviour of their partner.
The ultimate goal of the Freedom Programme is always to keep women safe. Although we have been delivering the Freedom Programme for a few years now it continues to consistently receive, positive feedback from women who have participated in the group sessions.
The aims of The Freedom Programme
- To help reduce women's isolation
- To help women understand the beliefs held by abusive men which allow them to abuse a partner, and identify ways in which both partners can sometimes share these beliefs
- To explore the effects of Domestic Violence on children
- To assist women to read the signs that may help her to spot a potential abuser and enable her to make positive choices about the kind of relationship she wants for the future
- To help women to develop self confidence
- To introduce women to wider community resources that will give her the opportunity to build the kind of future she wants
