Tuesday 25th February, TLC: Talk, Listen, Change joined a critical conversation about violence against women and girls (VAWG) inspired by new guidance released by Ofcom.
We featured across a BBC News article, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC News North West Tonight, shining a light on the work we do to change the wider landscape that women and girls’ safety online lives within.
BBC Radio 5 Live: Tackling Online Abuse & Domestic Violence
On Tuesday morning, Georgia Harrison and Miah Carter added their voices to the call-for-more from Tech firms – by sharing their devastating experience of NCII (non-consensual intimate images) and of misogynistic abuse online.
As part of the follow-up live audience at the People’s History Museum Manchester, hosted by Nicky Campbell, we joined key voices—including Miah and MP Jess Phillips—to discuss the broader issues of online abuse, like healthy relationships, role models, and domestic violence.
Our own Tony Sheppard, Domestic Abuse Prevention Worker, contributed to the discussion, reinforcing the importance of perpetrator intervention. His message was clear: abusive behaviours can change. And we have the evidence to prove it.
BBC News: Why Perpetrator Intervention Matters
MP Jess Phillips also spoke of the importance of good-quality and consistent interventions for those who perpetrate abuse, as necessary, in achieving the Governments pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.
Our Bridging to Change programme has proven results, reducing domestic abuse incidents by 80%, according to Home Office data. We were pleased to see the BBC follow up on this, with both an article, and a TV feature later in the evening, on our work with those who harm.
“It changed my life and calmed me down. Other people in the same situation as me – I would definitely recommend going on this course.”
Frank – programme participant.
But the conversation didn’t end there. More detail into the interventions we offer, was also broadcast in the BBC radio 5 live – 5 Live Drive show.
The drive-time presenters spoke to Tony, and participants *Paul and Frank, to highlight how essential
good-quality support is, but how sparse perpetrator interventions are nationwide. This was further echoed by the proceeding guest,
Nicole Jacobs (Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales), who praised programmes like ours, saying these behaviour change programmes are a critical part of the response to domestic abuse. But that only 7% of people who are willing to change, were able to find services to help in their area.
*Names were changed to protect the anonymity of the men and their families.
TLC features in the programme from 37 minutes onwards.
