Learning from People with Lived Experience Seminar: "You must have enjoyed it".

This research seminar is open to members of the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership. Please see below our Partner organisations.

This research seminar hopes to give learners a better understanding of what it's like to live with domestic abuse and coercive control, the challenges men face when trying to get help, the behaviours and tactics that may be used by female perpetrators to gaslight and misdirect professionals, how children are affected by living with domestic abuse, how post-separation abuse can often be ignored, and how unconscious bias can blind professionals, such as social workers and police, to evidence.

Areas covered:

• A personal  account of experiencing domestic abuse and post-separation abuse - including interactions with Social Workers and the Family Court.

• Perpetrator behaviours and tactics designed to gaslight and misdirect professionals.

• The effects on children of living with domestic abuse and coercive control, and post-separation abuse

• The dangers of unconscious bias.

There will be plenty of opportunities for discussion and Q&A.

David Gowar spent eight years as a residential social worker. He has an MA in Social and Political Science from Cambridge University and was invited to become a member of University of Worcester service user and carer group (IMPACT) in 2013 to share his experience of domestic abuse, post-separation abuse, false allegations and institutionalized prejudice. He is a passionate advocate for change in the way male victims of domestic abuse and coercive control are treated by legal and human services professionals.

Partner organisations:

Birmingham Children's Trust

Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City University

Cheshire East Council

City of Stoke-on-Trent Council

City of Wolverhampton Council

Coventry City Council

Coventry University

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Keele University

Sandwell Children's Trust

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Shropshire Council

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire University

Telford & Wrekin Council

University of Birmingham

University of Warwick

University of Wolverhampton

University of Worcester

Walsall Council

Warwickshire County Council

Worcestershire County Council