What is the Freedom Programme?
It is a free structured programme of training for women, delivered on a weekly basis – 2 hours for approximately 12 weeks. The Freedom Programme is an adaptable, affordable and sustainable educational tool for identifying and understanding domestic abuse. It shows us how to look underneath the manifested behaviours presenting – whether those behaviours are from adults or children.
What does it cover?
The programme is based on the Duluth model of Power and Control and consists of 8 different persona types in a positive and negative form;
- Bully / Friend
- Jailer / Liberator
- Headworker / Negotiator
- Persuader / Negotiator
- Liar / Truthteller
- Badfather / Goodfather
- King of the Castle / Partner
- Sexual Controller / Lover
Each persona has its own set of tactics and beliefs; the model looks at society’s reinforcements of those beliefs, the beliefs that victims share with their perpetrator and the effects that has on victims, be they adult or child. There is also a section specifically covering the Effects on the Children, who are often overseen as being victims themselves – sometimes the effects can be from conception onwards.
What are the aims?
- To help women regain their self esteem and self worth.
- To help women re-build their confidence.
- To empower women to regain control of their lives.
- To introduce women to community services and resources.
- To enable women to make informed choices about their futures.
- To provide women with the opportunity to develop ways of thinking and behaving to protect themselves.
- To enable women in keeping their children safe and understanding the impact of domestic abuse on them.
We welcome all women who join the group and ensure sessions are delivered in a relaxed, friendly and non judgemental manner. Where possible to enable women with childcare responsibility to attend the programme a FREE crèche for pre-school children will be funded.
Who is it for?
Essentially the Freedom Programme explains Human Behaviour – therefore it is applicable to us all, regardless of our age, gender, sexuality, disability, socio-economic status, race, faith or culture.
The Freedom Programme itself is written in the stereotypical form of adult male perpetrator and adult female victim, but that isn’t to suggest that the stereotype is the only form domestic abuse is present in – it’s just more prevalent in that format, globally.
Although based on Duluth as a framework, the contents of Living With A Dominator (the book that explains the Freedom Programme) are real experiences of victims and the actions of unnervingly honest perpetrators of domestic abuse, collated over many years.
Will the participant get a qualification at the end of the programme?
No but on successful completion of the programme they will receive a certificate of attendance.
Who delivers the programme?
The programme is delivered by trained facilitators who have experience in this area of work.
When do the programmes start?
There are programme starts throughout the year at different local venues and at different times of the week so as to be as accessible as possible.
How do I refer?
Talk it over with your female client. You will need to assess how ready you feel they are to address their situation or history, and to participate in the group. The referral form will gather some information about their circumstances and helps us work out how to make contact with them safely.
NB – all enquiries will be dealt with in a confidential and sensitive manner.
For more information about the Freedom Programme see www.freedomprogramme.co.uk
Download a referral form below.
Birmingham Childrens Safeguarding Portal 