History

The Freedom Programme Devised by Pat Craven

The Freedom Programme, which draws upon the Duluth model, has evolved from a theoretical perspective that is based on the results of several studies by Police and other organisations. It is also informed by the experience I gained from two years working with men who had been convicted of violent crimes against women.

There is a large body of research to illustrate that in the majority of cases, domestic violence and associated crimes are committed by men against women. In Britain, every three days, a woman dies at the hands of a violent partner. Much of this information is familiar to those who work in this field. Detailed information concerning the tactics used by abusive men to control women is also available. The true motive for this abuse is less well known.

When I worked with the men I soon learned that their attitudes and beliefs are the driving forces behind their behaviour. When I left the men's programme and began to work with women offenders I quickly realised that most of the women I encountered had offended either directly or indirectly as a result of having been subjected to violence and abuse either as an adult or adolescent or as a child. I learned that in most instances, women who have experienced abuse have little or no understanding of what has happened to them. To them it feels like a painful confusing mess for which they are largely to blame.

At the same time as I was working individually with women, colleagues were bringing other women to me for advice. I recall one young woman who had been viciously assaulted and had a fractured skull. Her violent partner had told her he attacked her because he was jealous and I found myself trying to distil my years of experience into ten minutes to convince her not to take him back. This of course proved impossible and I realised I needed to start a group work programme which would raise awareness gradually, much in the same way as the men's programme had done.

Initially, I sought to empower women by helping them to recognize and name tactics that had been used on them. I wrote a twelve-week rolling programme, which women can join at any time and is free. The content of the programme has evolved during the last three years. It now focuses not only on tactics but also on abusive beliefs. Women are able to identify that they also share many of the beliefs held by abusive men. Part of the programme deals in detail with the effect of domestic violence on children and of course we look closely at the emotional effects on the women themselves. I also aim to reduce isolation and encourage the women make friends, often for the first time in years. Women are introduced to local colleges and have been going to classes, etc. in groups. The aim is to help women to achieve economic independence.

The programme works closely with the Domestic Violence Police, the Women's Refuge, local colleges, Victim Support, the Alcohol Service, Social Services, the Drug Service and the Rape and Sexual Assault Centre. I now lecture and provide training. I would ultimately like to present the programmes in one form or another to schools, colleges, industry and all statutory agencies  that deal with women. The programme can also be used with men or boys.

At present I judge whether participants have achieved the proposed learning outcomes by asking women who have completed twelve sessions to fill in a questionnaire, So far the results have been very encouraging and I have also the used the answers I have received to modify and develop the programme.

Women come to the programme from a variety of directions. Many refer themselves, while others come from other agencies. The women who attend the programme are secretive about its content. They do not use the title Freedom Programme. They are all aware that their own safety and that of other women could depend upon absolute confidentiality and they all respect this. However they do bring friends and relatives who also need the programme. No one says why they are there and first names only are used. No woman on the programme ever gives advice or suggests that another woman should leave an abusive man. Many stay on after twelve weeks and do the programme again because they find it so interesting. They all say that it is initially painful but soon becomes empowering and fun.

I have now acquired some premises in a very accessible part of of Birkenhead and can now provide the Freedom Programme for abusive men. This will be available to men who are referred by the Family Courts and Social Services. Men will also be able to refer themselves in a private capacity. This will not be a rolling programme.

Please email us if you have any questions