Opportunities to share your voice

On this page you will find up to date opportunities to use your voice to influence change, shared via the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s VOICES at the DAC platform.

We work with statutory agencies, universities, local and national government and sector organisations to bring to you these opportunities.

The link to this page will be shared via our regular VOICES at the DAC newsletters, but please check back in as often as you like to see any new opportunities that have been shared with us.

Online/phone engagement

In-person engagement

Survey

Expenses paid

Payment offered

Support offered

National opportunities

Ministry of Justice perpetrator tagging scheme survey

  • Date added: 06/02/25
  • Deadline: 01/06/25
  • The Ministry of Justice would like to hear from victims and survivors of domestic abuse where the perpetrator has been ordered to wear an electronic tag through the DAPOL scheme.
  • Domestic Abuse Perpetrators on Licence (DAPOL) is a tool used to protect victims by tagging prison leavers where there is a risk of domestic abuse.
  • Engagement is via an online survey which will take around 10 minutes to complete.
  • Responses are kept confidential and will be used to understand how DAPOL is working and how it could be improved. 
  • You can find out more information about the survey here. And if you would like to take the survey, please click here.
  • There is no direct support available but participants will receive information about support available externally.

Northumbria University economic abuse research project

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Dr Clare Wiper is recruiting women victim/survivors aged over 18, who have experienced economic abuse through the use of digital banking products (e.g., mobile banking apps, digital payments, online credit applications).
  • The research will use participatory design sessions to bring together victim/survivors of economic abuse with professionals from the banking sector.
  • The sessions will focus on identifying ways of preventing perpetrators from using banking products to carry out economic abuse. Participants will complete three participatory design sessions in total.
  • Two of the sessions will be held online, and one will be held in-person (either in Newcastle or London depending on participants’ preference).
  • Each victim/survivor will take part in an individual interview with a member of the research team, to discuss their experiences of the research process.
  • The total time commitment is 10 hours, running from January to June.
  • A bursary of £80 is available to victim/survivors to cover their travel expenses for the in-person participatory design session.
  • Victim/survivors will receive £25 per hour for their total time commitment of 10 hours (£250 in total). This will be paid at two points:
    • Following the three participatory design sessions (£150), and
    • Following the design prioritisation session and interview (£100).
  • We will ask individual participants about the best way for them to receive the payment (e.g., bank transfer, voucher) to ensure this is safe and does not negatively impact them.
  • Victim/survivors will be able to access two hours of online counselling with a specialist counsellor (free of charge) if they would like to.
  • Please send a short paragraph to Claire explaining why you would like to be involved [email protected].

Regional opportunities

Telford & Wrekin domestic abuse service feedback

  • Date added: 06/02/25
  • Deadline: 31/03/25
  • Telford and Wrekin are looking to hear from any victim or survivor who has disclosed domestic abuse to a service or organisation in the local area.
  • This is to improve the local domestic abuse services and understand how to reach as many victims and survivors as possible.
  • Engagement is open to victims and survivors, their family, and their friends. Ideally participants will have – or be a friend or family member of someone who has – disclosed domestic abuse to a local service or organisation within the past 2 years.
  • Engagement will be in the form of 121 and group meetings, either face-to-face or online depending on participants’ preferences. There will also be anonymous online surveys.
  • Participants will need to set aside 15-30 mins for initial contact. The time then will be decided by how much they want to take part.
  • To find out more, email Tracey or fill out this contact form.
  • Expenses and payment are not being offered, but certain training courses are available to participants for free.
  • Support will be provided via A Better Tomorrow.
     

Central Bedfordshire Council Authentic Voice Panel

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Central Bedfordshire Council are looking for participants in their Authentic Voice Panel, which provides a formal voice for victim/survivors to influence the council’s response to domestic abuse.
  • The panel is open to adult (18+) victim/survivors of domestic abuse, including those who experienced domestic abuse in their childhood, currently living in Central Bedfordshire. They are particularly interested in reaching victim/survivors from minoritised communities.
  • Participants will attend a 3 hour meeting every 3 months, either virtually on MS Teams or in person at Priory House, Chicksands.
  • Expenses and payment are not offered.
  • All panel members are supported by an IDVA, who attends each meeting.
  • Email [email protected] to find out more.

Solace Women’s Aid (London) Shadow Board

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Solace – London’s Women’s Aid Service – is recruiting a victim/survivor Shadow Board to work with their Board of Trustees and provide feedback on strategy and governance.
  • Applications are open to any victim/survivors of violence against women and girls in London.
  • Participants will be expected to attend face-to-face board meetings in Camden, every other month.
  • Reasonable expenses will be provided.
  • Support will be provided from the Service User Involvement Coordinator will be ongoing. Training for participants will also be offered.
  • If you are interested in applying or would like some more information, please contact Hannah Murphy at [email protected].

SafeLives & Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Coproduction Panel

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Safelives and Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Coproduction Panel are seeking new members.
  • This opportunity is open to victim/survivors of domestic abuse in Hertfordshire.
  • They are seeking people who care about other victim/survivors and want to use their voice, insight and expertise to improve responses to victim/survivors of domestic abuse in Hertfordshire,
  • The diverse and inclusive panel welcomes men, women and non-binary members. Currently the panel members meet once per month in a facilitated online space for 2 hours during the day.
  • Expenses are provided upon receipt.
  • Members are paid £20 per hour.
  • Support available between meetings from the group facilitator.
  • Please get in touch by contacting Cate (who facilitates the panel) to express your interest or ask any questions you may have, and they will send you an expression of interest pack: [email protected].

Influence Doncaster Council’s policies and processes

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Doncaster Council is looking for victim/survivors to share their voices to include their policies and processes.
  • This opportunity is open to victim/survivors who live in Doncaster or have accessed services in Doncaster.
  • Participants can engage via a virtual call, over the phone or via email.
  • Reimbursement for your time is offered and internal support available to participants.
  • If you are interested in this opportunity, please get in touch via email [email protected] or you can call or text 07980 060504.
  • Interpreters can be arranged if needed, including British Sign Language (BSL).

Barnsley Council Survivor Voice Service

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Councils are recruiting for their Survivor Voice Service. Run by GROW, it is a a peer led post-crisis support service for women and their children who have previously been subjected to domestic abuse.
  • By joining the services, participants will have the opportunity to receive peer support for long term recovery and develop their voice and learn how to influence change as a result.
  • They will also have the opportunity to represent the voices of victim/survivors at strategic meetings.
  • This opportunity is open to any women who have previously been subjected to domestic abuse in Barnsley.
  • The organisation offers internal support as part of the group.
  • If you are interested in getting involved, please email Alice Milner [email protected].

Swindon Council domestic abuse consulting group

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Swindon Borough Council are looking for victim/survivors to join a domestic abuse consulting group. The group will help develop the council’s domestic abuse strategies and services and will become members of their Domestic Abuse and VAWG Board.
  • This opportunity is open to victim/survivors of domestic abuse in Swindon.
  • Participants can engage via groups and 1-2-1s, and online consultations and surveys. This will take place both online and in person in Swindon.
  • Participants will be required to commit a maximum of six hours per year.
  • Childcare and travel expenses will be provided as necessary, and payment will be decided with participants.
  • Support will be offered via the council’s domestic abuse service provider.
  • To register your interest, please email [email protected].

Influence Shropshire Council’s domestic abuse policies and services

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Shropshire Council are recruiting victim/survivors to influence their domestic abuse policy and feedback on local services to develop procedures.
  • They want to speak to victim/survivors who have experience domestic or sexual abuse and accessed any service within Shropshire.
  • Engagement will be a mixture of group and 1-2-1 discussions, with some surveys and questionnaires. It will mostly be in-person, with some opportunities for participation online and over the phone.
  • To find out more or get involved, contact the council’s Lived Experience Project Officer, Kate Connor by email [email protected] or phone 07977577674.

Torbay Council Lived Experience Network

  • Deadline: Ongoing
  • Torbay Council are developing a Lived Experience Network to support development and implementation of their Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy Delivery Plan and to represent on their local Domestic Abuse Partnership Board.
  • The network is open to people in and around Torbay who have experience domestic abuse and/or sexual violence.
  • Engagement will be in whichever form is most comfortable for participants and will take place online and in person.
  • The time commitment is also up to each individual.
  • Expenses will be offered for 1-2-1 engagement and payment can be arranged for participation.
  • Please email [email protected] to find out more or apply.
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