New project to examine informal support for victims of domestic violence

The project, led by Dr Karen Schucan Bird (Social Research Institute), will undertake a systematic rapid review to identify informal social support interventions (provided by family, friends, neighbours and community groups) and underpinning mechanisms that improve outcomes for victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse (DVA).

Findings from the project will be translated into practical, real-world guidance for friends, families, communities, and domestic violence and abuse practitioners to facilitate providing informal social support to victims and survivors.

The project will be a collaboration with SafeLives, a UK-based charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse.

Dr Karen Schucan Bird said: “Evidence suggests that victims have been less able or willing to seek help and, for those that do, the delivery of frontline services has been hampered by a number of operational challenges. In this situation, interventions that facilitate and enhance informal social support offer a vital lifeline to adults made vulnerable by domestic violence and abuse. Yet very little is known about such interventions.

“This project offers the opportunity to learn lessons from existing research about what works to provide informal social support to victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse. This will complement existing research into formal policy and practice responses to provide a holistic picture of society-wide responses to DVA.

“The collaboration between UCL and SafeLives will ensure relevance, methodological rigour, and UK-wide reach of the project and outputs. SafeLives’ #ReachIn campaign will serve as a vehicle for engaging key audiences and maximising benefits now, in the recovery phase of the pandemic, and beyond.”

Suzanne Jacob, Chief Executive of SafeLives, said: “Lockdown is difficult for everyone, but for those who are experiencing domestic abuse from a partner or family member, it is dangerous, traumatic and relentless. Opportunities to get support are more limited than ever. We know that only one in five adult victims of domestic abuse will call the police – and of course, for children this is even lower. For many, informal support networks like friends, family, colleagues and neighbours are vital. Now more than ever, we need people to step up and check in on the people around them. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is #ReachIn and give someone the opportunity to talk about what’s going on. 

“We look forward to working with UCL to find ways to enhance informal support structures, so more victims of domestic abuse can become safe, sooner.”

This research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19.

Links

• View Dr Karen Schucan Bird’s research profile
• UCL Social Research Institute
• Social Science Research Unit (SSRU)
• Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre)
• SafeLives

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