Time for tea

This project ran from November 2023 to October 2024 and was funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2023-2028.

Background
Methodology
Aims
Team
Additional information

Background

Individuals who experience domestic abuse commonly tell someone within their familial or social networks before reaching out to formal services. Supportive reactions from friends and family, whether providing a listening ear or a place to stay, are associated with improvements in the wellbeing of victims and enable them to seek further help.

Yet, evidence highlights several barriers to providing informal support. Friends and family don’t always recognise the signs of abuse, don’t know how to help, or fear repercussions of doing so.

Our ESRC-funded systematic review identified that educational activities can help to address some of these barriers and equip informal supporters with the necessary resources to respond in positive and helpful ways.

Methodology

This knowledge exchange project is based on an arts-based collaboration between researchers, artists and individuals with lived experience of abuse.

Visual arts, such as drawing and tracing, are used to identify and explore the views and experiences of informal support. These experiences, alongside lessons from the wider evidence base, are used to generate actionable messages for the public.

Such messages are embedded in a range of visual artefacts, including art installation and zine, and delivered through a series of interactive, public engagement events.

Aims

Building on our previous finding, the project aims to blend art, evidence from research and expertise from experience to develop actionable messages for the public at large.

In doing so, this project seeks to empower and equip friends, family, neighbours, and community members with the knowledge, understanding and skills to respond to someone experiencing an abusive or harmful relationship.