Our aim is to work with as diverse a range of people and organisations with experience of or an interest in domestic abuse as possible. We want their insight and expertise to inform our understanding of the wide spectrum of issues, challenges and concerns facing victims and survivors of domestic abuse and the organisations working with and for them, both at the front-line and strategic levels. The feedback and information they share enables us to shape the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s priorities and recommendations to Government.
Who we work with and why
The types of individuals and organisations we engage with are:
- Victims and survivors
- National domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) organisations and services
- Local domestic abuse and VAWG organisations and services
- Local Authorities and the Local Government Association
- Police and Crime Commissioners and the Association of PCCS
- National Police Chiefs Council
- Clinical Commissioning Groups and the NHS
- Central Government Departments – officials and Ministers
- Welsh Government – officials and Ministers
- Victims’ Commissioner, Children’s Commissioner and Anti-Slavery Commissioner
- Wider third sector organisations (such as homelessness organisations, housing bodies, children’s organisations)
- Academics and think-tanks
- Foreign governments
- International non-government organisations
- Private sector
We engage though a wide range of mechanisms, including meetings, forums, round-tables, surveys, consultations, commissioned work and social media.
We are always open to making new connections and hearing from new voices, especially those from underrepresented groups. If you think there is anyone, we should be engaged with who we aren’t already, please do let us know. You can email us at commissioner@domesticabusecommissioner.independent.gov.uk
Regional forums
As the work of the Practice and Partnership Regional Leads develops, we will work with local partners to understand existing mechanisms for regional engagement and strategic discussions on domestic abuse. The Regional Leads will engage in these fora where they already exist in their respective regions, as well as work to assess where and how a DAC Office Regional Forum could add value. The forums will therefore likely take different shapes in different areas, but all will have the underlying aim of bringing together a wide range of expertise and perspectives from across the coordinated community response to domestic abuse, in order to identify and develop responses to common challenges, share best practice and innovation and identify opportunities for strengthen collaboration. These forums will be informed by victim and survivor voices. The forum discussions will be fed into the central DAC Office in order to inform the development of policy positions, recommendations and priorities, as well as the identification of issues that require escalating to the national level.