Specialist responses to domestic abuse launched across Black, African, Caribbean and Mixed Heritage communities, South Asian communities, and LGBT+ communities

The Drive Partnership is delighted to announce the launch of three co-designed specialist responses to domestic abuse led by a consortium of delivery providers to address systemic gaps in responses to domestic abuse across Black, African, Caribbean and Mixed Heritage communities, South Asian communities, and LGBT+ communities as part of its National Systems Change work.

The Pamoja Njia Bora Programme (Together, We’ll Find the Best Path Forward), designed for Black, African, Caribbean, and Mixed Heritage communities, will be delivered by Creating Equalz, Silenced CIC, and Bambuuu, and will run in both group and one-to-one sessions over 20 weeks in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Northamptonshire.

“At Creating Equalz, we are truly excited to work with the Drive Partnership, alongside our amazing partners — Silenced CIC and BAMBUU — as we explore the possibilities of delivering a culturally driven, transformative behaviour change trial programme across Northamptonshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

Together, we aim to inspire lasting behavioural change, foster positive and nurturing relationships, and strengthen community bonds through mindful resources, strong partnerships, innovative approaches, and a shared commitment to meaningful change,” said Laney Holland, Director and Founder at Creating Equalz.

The CHAB Programme (Changing Harmful Attitudes & Behaviours), designed for South Asian communities, will be delivered over 20 weeks in both group and one-to-one sessions by H.O.P.E CIC, Sikh Women’s Aid, Halo, and Pegasus Ltd in Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Bradford.

Meena Kumari, Director at H.O.P.E CIC, said: “This programme addresses the critical need for culturally specific interventions that understand and are tailored to the unique dynamics within South Asian communities. Creating interventions by our community, for our community, we are taking a crucial step toward long lasting change.”

Yasmin Khan, CEO of The Halo Project, said: “The Halo Project is proud to be part of this vital intervention, addressing a long-standing gap in focusing on those who choose to perpetrate domestic abuse. Too often, perpetrators of domestic abuse and/or honour-based abuse evade accountability due to a lack of tailored interventions that address the unique cultural and coercive dynamics at play. This pilot is a groundbreaking step in ensuring perpetrators are challenged and supported to change their behaviour, while survivors receive the specialist safeguarding and advocacy they need.

Education plays a crucial role in this work—empowering individuals and communities to recognise abuse, understand their rights, and support change from within. By investing in education as a key pillar of this intervention, we not only respond to current harms but also lay the groundwork for meaningful, long-term cultural change. Through our collaboration with H.O.P.E CIC, Sikh Women’s Aid, and the Drive Partnership, we are committed to driving systemic change and ensuring sustainable safety for those at risk.”

The LEVEL Programme, designed for LGBT+ communities, will be delivered by WomenCentre and The Brunswick Centre on a one-to-one basis over 22 weeks in West Yorkshire.

“We’re proud to be part of the Drive Partnership’s National Systems Change work through the LEVEL programme. The Brunswick Centre and WomenCentre are working together across Calderdale and Kirklees to offer something truly new. LEVEL recognises the realities of domestic abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships and fills a real gap in current services. It’s about creating space for accountability, understanding, and meaningful change — for those who have caused harm and for those who have been harmed,” said Angela Everson, CEO of WomenCentre and John McKernaghan, CEO of The Brunswick Centre.

The Drive Partnership’s National Systems Change work seeks to identify and address systemic gaps in responses to domestic abuse by bringing together the insights of survivors, service users, practitioners, specialist organisations, researchers and policy makers to build solutions. In 2023, the Drive Partnership launched a new phase of its National Systems Change work, thanks to further funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and Treebeard Trust, to partner with specialist by-and-for organisations and experts to co-design responses to domestic abuse.

The launch of these specialist services marks the culmination of two years of co-design and development work undertaken by three co-design groups and an Advisory Group, and is an important step towards addressing systemic gaps in service provision, meeting the needs of all communities, and increasing the safety and freedom of all victim-survivors.

Tina Patel, Head of National Systems Change at the Drive Partnership, said: “We are extremely proud to announce the launch of three new, co-designed specialist responses to domestic abuse, which have been designed and developed in partnership with by-and-for organisations and experts by experience.

The launch of these specialist services, led by new delivery partners with deep roots in the communities they serve, marks an important milestone in seeking to address systemic gaps in responses to domestic abuse to increase the safety and wellbeing of all victim-survivors.

This work would not have been possible without both the dedication and collaboration of our National Systems Change partners, whose years of expertise and unwavering commitment across the sector have paved the way for the development of this work.”