Freedom Project

The Freedom Programme, which is run by Worthing Women’s Aid in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Worthing, provides help and support for women who have experienced domestic abuse. This month we hear from Veronica O’Donohue, who is a volunteer facilitator with the programme, about how they can help to change women’s lives and also gain fulfillment through helping others.

Domestic abuse, in my opinion, is at the core of many of society’s problems.  It’s effects are numerous; depression; self-harm; suicide; imitated aggression; petty crimes such as shoplifting; birth defects; alcohol and drug dependency; youth crimes; child abuse; physical harm and even murder.  The full list is too long to include here, even if I were aware of every effect possible but consider how many agencies and resources are needed to deal with all of the above including Social Services, The Judiciary, local authorities, hospitals and charities like Worthing Women’s Aid, for whom I volunteer.

I feel privileged to have a role within this organization and work as a Freedom Programme Facilitator.  The Freedom Programme was devised by a former probation officer, Pat Craven, and was introduced to this area by Worthing Women’s Aid.  It is a free, rolling twelve-week programme for women, some of whom will be in an abusive relationship, some of whom will have left and some of whom will attend simply for the knowledge, either for personal reasons or professional.  It is run in term-time and the cycle is repeated every term.  Women can attend as often as they are able and can catch-up on any missed session on the following cycle.  No referral is necessary.  Currently there are four sessions each week, including one evening programme.  Day-time sessions have free creche facilities.

Strange though it sounds, working in this programme is fun, despite the subject matter and no matter what area of domestic abuse is being covered in a session, humour always creeps in.  The programme concentrates on male abuse towards women as it is women who are most likely to be injured or murdered by their partners or former partners.  However, Worthing Women’s Aid intend to begin youth and men’s programmes as soon as possible.

The information gained from the programme can also be applied to many other relationships as the knowledge is about people dominating others and can be applied to many situations.  I suspect that most of us have known a dominant person at some time.

Volunteering in this programme gives me so much.  It gives me the chance to work in an area about which I feel passionate, which is good for my brain and my well-being.  Also seeing the ladies who attend regain some of their self-esteem and become stronger is more than rewarding, it’s wonderful.  As volunteers we are able to contribute positively to our community as well as to ourselves and the volunteer sector saves the County Council a considerable sum of money each year, assisting them in maintaining a high level of their statutory services.

Worthing Women’s Aid is very supportive to me and understanding if I am unable to work at any time so there is far less pressure when volunteering than we might imagine, although charities do rely on their volunteers to provide the service they aim to bring to our communities.

I am really looking-forward to the service spreading to the other groups and believe that the planned youth and men’s programmes will have a very positive effect on the environment in which we all live.  Being part of that gives me immense pleasure and the positive impact on our communities will benefit me too.  So, volunteering is not only about giving, we receive plenty in return.
 
If you operate a scheme or want to tell us about your area get in touch by emailing community.safety@arun.gov.uk