Domestic violence training for companies

Having been supporting women and children who have experienced domestic violence for 35 years, the Refuge team has a developed a wealth of expertise in this area.  We have a team of highly qualified professionals available to support UK businesses wishing to begin their journey of addressing domestic violence in the workplace.

The health and well-being of your employees has a significant impact on your business productivity. One woman in four will experience domestic violence at some point in her life so there is a strong chance that many of your work force will need support and in order to provide this support you and your team need to have a clear understanding of how best you can help.

With this in mind it is important to recognise that before awareness raising campaigns and support for staff can be put in place, the human resources team and key team leaders need to understand:

• domestic violence – the definition, facts, the warning signs, the myths, the effects
• broad range of needs of women experiencing domestic violence and services that are able to offer support
• have clear and effective responses in place.
  
  

Refuge offers a range of training to support companies

We can provide:

1. An introduction to domestic violence: 2 hours, up to 15 participants

• 1 hour introduction to domestic violence: the definition, the facts, the warning signs, the myths, the effects
• 1 hour Q&A
• Target audience: senior management, executive, board

(Note: this would not provide enough training to support a work place domestic violence policy)

2. A half day workshop: up to 10 participants

• Introduction to domestic violence: the definition, the facts, the warning signs, the myths, the effects
• Examples of the ways in which your workplace could support your staff:
  • Awareness raising campaigns
  • Domestic violence champions
  • Internal workplace policies (including perpetrator policies)
• Target audience: operational managers, human resource staff
  
  

3. A full day workshop: up to 10 participants

• Introduction to domestic violence: the definition, the facts, the warning signs, the myths, the effects
• Examples of the ways in which your workplace could support your staff:
  • Awareness raising campaigns
  • Domestic violence champions
  • Internal workplace policies (including perpetrator policies)
  • Mapping policies that would work best for your organisation
• Target audience: operational managers, human resource staff
  
  

4. Staff domestic violence policy launch (to take place after the ½ day or full day session)

• To work alongside the company human resources team to:
  • Introduce domestic violence to the company at large
  • Launch the domestic violence policy and awareness raising campaign

Useful materials

We can provide some useful materials to support awareness raising activities:

• Posters for communal and public places
• Leaflets
• Credit card information cards
  
  

We can also work with you to write any materials you may need such as:

• Bespoke work place policies
• Leaflets
• Internet information
• Intranet information
  
  

And we will always be at the end of the phone to discuss any concerns you may have or any further questions.

To find out more about training and awareness raising opportunities call:

Lisa King, Refuge director of communications and fundraising, 020 7395 7744 or lisa_king@refuge.org.uk

By showing your support you will not only be reaching out to women in need of services, but your organisation will help support the campaign to bring domestic violence out of the shadows.