Voices for Change - Domestic Abuse Workshop - FREE Entry

Voices for Change – Domestic Abuse Advocacy Event

Join us for an empowering and trauma-informed community event focused on raising awareness of domestic abuse, coercive control, emotional abuse, and the long-term impact of trauma on children and adults.

This month’s theme is “Regaining Sovereignty” — creating space for survivors, supporters, professionals, and community members to come together, learn, heal, and advocate for change.

Chairing the meeting is Natalie Mawson, Psychology graduate, former counsellor (educated), and current Criminology & Criminal Justice MA student, who will be sharing her lived experiences of childhood and adulthood trauma, domestic abuse, coercive control, and recovery.

Natalie will also deliver a presentation on:

“How to Stand Up to Abuse”

This event aims to increase understanding around:

• Coercive control

• Trauma responses and nervous system survival states

• Fight / flight / freeze / fawn responses

• Attachment trauma and trauma patterns

• Victim behaviour and self-blame

• Addiction and trauma coping responses

• Safeguarding risks and domestic abuse dynamics

• How trauma affects children and adults long-term

• Regaining self-control, self-esteem, and personal identity after abuse

We are also advocating for:

1. Education on domestic abuse, especially coercive control across all the UK public services - the hidden emotional and psychological abuse

2. Improved safeguarding responses during suspectable domestic abusive incidents such as witness statements and signposting.

3. Ensuring childhood trauma, coercive control and domestic abuse are fully explored before long-term psychiatric labelling or Medic*tion pathways are pursued.

4. Schools to educate all children from a young age about the signs of domestic abuse, especially coercion, emotional and psychological.

Important Content Warning

This event includes discussion of:

• Domestic abuse

• Childhood and adult trauma

• Sexual abuse

• Addiction

• Self-harm

• Suicide

Please attend only if you feel emotionally safe to do so.

What to Expect

• A safe and respectful environment

• Educational discussion and advocacy

• Opportunity to share experiences (optional)

• Tea, coffee, and refreshments available

• Monthly survivor-focused themes and conversations

• Community support and empowerment

Children and adults affected by abuse deserve to feel:

✔ Heard

✔ Believed

✔ Protected

✔ Supported

✔ Safe

Every voice matters. Every response counts. Every life can change.

Together, we can break the silence and create lasting change.

Believe. Support. Protect. Empower.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Voices for Change Domestic Abuse Advocacy UK