Our research & campaigns
We believe domestic abuse affects all of us, and that we all have a role to play in ending it.
We want to see a society free from domestic abuse, with families, friends and communities at the heart of the solution. Our research and campaigns support our work to engage, equip, and empower our communities to be able to respond to domestic abuse safely and effectively, and to bridge the gap between our communities and services.
'The Hierarchy of Testimony'
In partnership with WWIN and AAFDA we produced a research paper titled: 'Domestic Homicide Reviews: The role of family, friends and community – a hierarchy of testimony?' This report was launched at our national conference in May 2024. You can find our Briefing Paper, Full Report and Impact Report below, all of which are free to download.
A Domestic Homicide Review, or Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR), whilst being a critical tool for learning about agency and societal responses to victims (and, in some cases, perpetrators) of domestic abuse, is so much more. These reviews offer a lasting narrative of individuals’ lives and deaths, and of the experiences of those that are left behind. The guidance states that families should be given the opportunity to be integral to reviews and should be treated as a key stakeholder. However, our recent research highlighted that, despite families and wider testimonial networks sharing valuable experiences, their insights often fail to translate into robust recommendations, underscoring a hierarchy of testimony that favours agency perspectives over those who personally knew the victim.
The research analysed 123 reviews, integrating insights from bereaved family members, DARDR chairs, and representatives from Community Safety Partnerships, to enhance understanding of the crucial role families and wider networks play in reviews, the barriers to engagement, and the potential for their contributions to inform meaningful recommendations. In compiling this report, we remember those whose lives have been lost to domestic abuse.
Comic Relief 2024
We were honoured to work alongside Suzanne's family, Comic Relief, and Melanie Brown to create this powerful short film.
Our hope is that it sheds light on the realities of domestic abuse and highlights the crucial role that families, friends, and communities play in supporting survivors.
'What I don't know is...'
In 2024, we launched our 'What I don’t know is...' campaign in partnership with Bauer Media. The campaign ran across digital and radio in the North East, and also featured four powerful animations, each spotlighting the perspective of a concerned family member or friend, including a colleague, a sister, a mother, and a friend. The campaign highlighted the red flags which family members and friends may see, and the often-unseen behaviours and impacts that may be lying underneath. The campaign was heard over 1.5 million times on the radio, and viewed over 460,000 times on YouTube, alongside social media and web content, enabling us to reach a broad audience and raise awareness of domestic abuse, the signs people might recognise, and where they can go for support.
You can make a difference.
As a part of the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence in 2024, we launched a print and digital campaign to raise awareness of violence against women and girls in collaboration with the Sunderland City Council, the Foundation of Light, Sunderland BID, and other partners. Together, we amplified the message that violence against women and girls is not inevitable and we can all make a difference. Over 50 businesses and community organisations in Sunderland displayed posters and materials, including several city-centre based cafes placing stickers on their coffee cups. This campaign allowed us to engage with the local community, including a focus on Sunderland specific statistics. Our goal was to encourage people to take action, challenge harmful stereotypes, and stand together to end violence against women and girls.
To mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism, we hosted Together We Can - an inspiring evening of unity against domestic abuse. The event brought together communities from across Sunderland to raise awareness, amplify the voices of survivors, and celebrate the strength found in solidarity. The night featured powerful and moving contributions in the form of poetry, music, and art, each piece a testament to the resilience and hope of survivors. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part and helped make the evening so meaningful.
The event concluded with an impactful performance by a local choir, a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together as a community.