Personal Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence

Course Background

Having provided Personal Safety and Lone Worker training for many of the Women’s Aid organisations throughout Wales, under our previous company name, Conflict Solutions Training & Consultancy Ltd. we were asked to design a Personal Safety training course for Victims of Domestic Violence.

With the support of our Women’s Aid clients, we spoke with a large number of women who had experienced domestic violence to seek their support in designing a training product that was relevant and also practical to meet family commitments. After considerable research, training was designed and piloted with the support of Amman Valley Women’s Aid and representatives of Welsh Women’s Aid.

We were delighted with the feedback received by all attendees, with many expressing views that they felt more confident, empowered and better able to manage violent relationships now and in the future. It was an incredible experience for the trainers who certainly valued the attendance and support of a number of staff from Amman Valley Women’s Aid.

The Personal Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence training course, will provide service users with a host of skills and safe strategies to assist them in managing confrontational situations with their potentially violent partners and provide safe strategies to remove themselves from dangerous situations. The combination of theory and group discussions, provides the opportunity for women to discuss and explore sensitive issues in a safe learning environment.

Training Delivery

In the interests of confidentiality and trust, staff will be required to facilitate group tasks and provide sanitised feedback. Training is delivered in a relaxed, informal and flexible manner, with the emphasis on opportunities for group discussions.

The course is timed to accommodate school hours – 10.00am start – 3.00pm finish (this can be varied according to local needs).

Learning Objectives

• Open discussion on areas where women feel vulnerable
• Discuss causes and triggers that lead to confrontation
• Identify situations where their personal safety may be at risk.
• ‘Fight or Flight’ – the body’s natural response to stress
• Be able to recognise the signs and effects of alcohol, drugs/solvents and mental health issues, exhibited by individuals
• Appreciate how confrontation may progress through the use of body language – early warning signs, warning and danger signs
• Be able to use effective body language and various communication skills and safe strategies to diffuse confrontational situations
• Managing confrontation through distractions and interpersonal skills
• Appreciation of the Law in respect of self defence
• Basic breakaway and self defensive skills
  – we cover stance and movement
  – releases from wrist grabs, neck and strangle holds.
  – blocking skills
  – knee strikes
  – palm heel strikes
  – ground defence