Support for domestic abuse survivors must go beyond basic needs, writes Marcela Benedetti, Community Engagement Manager at Refuge
The impact of domestic abuse cannot be overstated. One in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime – a crime which can devastate lives.
But beyond the immediate impact of domestic abuse, it robs survivors of hope. Hope for their future, hope for their happiness.
When fleeing abuse, getting to a place of safety is the primary aim. Commissioning for domestic abuse services often revolves around crisis intervention and supporting survivors to access immediate protection.
However, as Community Engagement Manager at Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse charity, I know firsthand that to truly rebuild their lives, survivors need additional support which empowers them to become the person their perpetrator tried to repress.
Having worked in the violence against women and girls (VAWG) sector for 18 years, I have seen survivors return to services several times, sometimes after going back to the same perpetrator, or entering a relationship with a different perpetrator. We must be clear – this is not the survivor’s fault. There are many reasons why someone may return to a perpetrator, including financial strain, coercive control, or social pressures.
What this demonstrates is not a failure of survivors, but an urgent need for support beyond crisis intervention.
At Refuge, community engagement support means working across our services to help survivors to gain skills, access work opportunities and grow their confidence. It can take many forms, including counselling, business courses, gym memberships and fun activities for survivors’ children. Our team acts as the bridge between Refuge’s services and these external resources.
When survivors are able to access community engagement support, I can see that they leave our services feeling stronger and more empowered to break the cycle of abuse. They not only regain their freedom, but a renewed sense of hope.
In the past few months alone, my team and I have seen the transformative power of community engagement. We’ve offered easter egg hunts for survivors’ children, tickets to historical venues, access to sports facilitates and counselling. We’ve even been able to help survivors secure college bursaries.
The community engagement team has also established support groups and coffee mornings, creating safe, welcoming spaces for survivors to connect. Through these initiatives, many women have gone on to become peer mentors – arriving initially as service users, rebuilding their confidence, and now supporting fellow survivors. Seeing this full cycle in action is a testament to what’s possible when survivors are given the space and support to flourish.
Turning fear into hope and empowering survivors to rebuild their lives from abuse is central to everything we do. From developing our community engagement initiatives to supporting a new national campaign, A Million Acts of Hope, Refuge’s work is propelled by the power of positive action.
For all of us working in the domestic abuse sector, our roles are far more than just a job. And for survivors, services are lifelines. We must remember that support is not just about saving lives but transforming them for good.
From working as a service manager previously, I know how essential it is to work in tandem with a community engagement team, allowing service colleagues to focus on managing immediate risks to survivors.
But, too often, the commissioning landscape does not factor in just how crucial community engagement is. Our team is currently funded to work in five areas, but my vision is that we will continue to grow until we can support across every Refuge service.
In a time when VAWG is surging and many survivors feel alone and unheard, community engagement is more important than ever. By developing a holistic approach to support, we can help more survivors realise their full potential.
