Festival of Practice 2023 - Domestic Abuse Commissioner

We were delighted to hold our first ever conference – the Festival of Practice – in March 2023 in Manchester. Please scroll down to view photos, slides and resources from the event.

Arts & poetry

The conference featured the work of several artists, working across film, photography, illustration and poetry.

Allie Crewe, Photographer

Photographer Allie Crewe’s moving images of domestic abuse survivors were on display at the Festival of Practice. You can view the series, titled I Am, along with her other work here.

Chris Godwin, Filmmaker

Attendees had the opportunity to watch Chris Godwin’s powerful short film Timekeeper which explores a child’s perspective of coercive control. Chris is the Founder and Creative Director of Inner Eye Productions which specialises in culture-change films. You can watch Timekeeper here. The film is based on real experiences and includes scenes that some viewers may find distressing.

Nasima Begum, Poet

Nasima Begum aka Nasima Bee performed a set of poetry during the Festival of Practice. She is a poet, producer and creative practitioner from the charity Young Identity, which creates opportunities for young, marginalised people to participate in the arts. You can find out more about Nasima here.

Rakaya Fetuga, Poet

Rakaya Fetuga performed a set of spoken work poetry at the Festival of Practice. Rakaya is a poet and performer whose work explores self expression, overlapping identities, faith, and culture as self-affirmation. You can find out more about her here.

Leanne Van, Illustrator

Leanne Van is a freelance illustrator, designer and mural artist. She created several live murals during the Festival of Practice. You can find out more about her work here.

Workshop slides

Experts from across England and Wales delivered our focussed workshops during the conference, allowing for detailed discussions around key work being done across the domestic abuse sector. Slides are available to the public below.

‘Policy and practice in supporting migrant survivors of domestic abuse.’
Dr Hannana Siddiqui (Southall Black Sisters) and Vicky Marsh (Safety 4 Sisters).

‘Family, Faith and Community: Effective ways to respond to domestic abuse.’ Slide deck 1; Slide deck 2
Elsabeth Gezahegn King (Faith and VAWG Coalition), Ciara Barrett-Smith (Wearside Women in Need), and Sophie Meuwissen (Cambridge Women’s Aid).

‘A Violence Reduction Unit’s perspective on domestic abuse and the Serious Violence Duty.’
Julie Smith (Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit).

‘Collaborative commissioning: A ‘Lead Provider’ model in Salford.’
Debbie Blackburn (Salford City Council) and Phil East (The Salford Foundation).

‘Commissioning of ‘By and for’ services as part of a comprehensive domestic abuse system.’
Surwat Sohail (Roshni) and Brittany Bowles (West Midland OPCC).

‘Supporting survivors with multiple vulnerabilities in safe accommodation.’
Louisa Steele (Standing Together), Amy Smith (Standing Together), and Sarah Goodwin (Solace Women’s Aid).

‘Collaborating towards confidence: How coordinated criminal justice responses within the courts create stronger outcomes.’
Michelle Porter (Swansea Specialist Domestic Violence Court), Hannah Jeffery (Centre for Justice and Innovation), Karen Morgan-Read (CPS), and Kira Gregory (Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse).

‘Strategy and practice in sexual violence, domestic abuse, and so-called honour-based abuse services: Joined-up working and engaging specialist expertise.’
Johanna Robinson (VAWDASV Wales), Babs Walsh (VAWDASV Wales), Debbie Woodroffe (New Pathways), and Nazira Mehmari (IKWRO).

‘The unique challenges facing an ageing population affected by domestic abuse.’
Richard Robinson (Hourglass) and Veronica Gray (Hourglass).

‘Survivor voice at the centre of integrated perpetrator disruption and support services.’
Gaynor Edwards (Safer Merthyr Tydfil) and Marcelle Greggains (Safer Merthyr Tydfil).

‘Preventing Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA): Conceptualising and responding to a hidden problem.’
Helen Bonnick, Neil Blacklock (Respect), and Jane Griffiths (Capa First Response).

‘The importance of therapeutic and trauma-informed support for children as victims.’
Abby Traynor (Acorns) and Helen Connor (Acorns).

‘Meeting the needs of trans victims and survivors.’
Moss Ferry (Loving Me), Amanda Elwen (Loving Me), and Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie (My CWA).

‘Supporting survivors through the family justice process.’
Alex Lowry (RCJ Advice) and Carmel Offord (IDAS).

‘Universal Prevention and targeted prevention in education settings: Bridging the gap to specialist provision.’ Slide deck 1; Slide deck 2
Emma Bradshaw (Alternative Learning Trust), Carol Harris (The Spectrum Project), and Elenor Donnelly (The Spectrum Project).

‘The importance of a trauma-informed approach across all frontline responses to domestic abuse.’
Ejaye Moran (My Sisters Place).

Arts & poetry

Workshop slides

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