The University of South Wales (USW) has been awarded over £300,000 funding from Health and Care Research Wales for a large-scale research project focusing on support for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women affected by Violence Against Women, Domestic abuse, and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV).
Over two years, this groundbreaking study will place the voices and experiences of BME women at the heart. Through in-depth methods such as interviews, digital storytelling, and workshops, the project will develop a comprehensive framework designed to ensure that services, spanning healthcare, law enforcement, social services, and community organisations, can better meet the needs of the service users.
Led by USW’s Dr Sarah Wallace, the study is in partnership with Bawso, a service who provides practical and emotional prevention, protection and support services to BME and migrant victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honour-based violence, modern slavery, and human trafficking.
Entitled ‘Listening is a Big Step: Co-developing a Multi-agency Framework with BME women for Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence’, the study will explore needs and experiences of women who are in contact with many different services, acknowledging the disproportionate impact of specific forms of VAWDASV together with additional barriers faced when disclosing and reporting abuse, including distrust of authorities, language barriers, immigration concerns, and fears of racism.
Dr Wallace said:
“This project will work directly with BME women to co-create solutions that ensure their voices are heard and their experiences shape the services designed to protect them. By improving how services work together, we can have a real impact on both individual well-being and societal change. Working closely with Bawso and their service users to inform this work is central and we are delighted to be able to deliver this project as a partnership.
“The study is timely in light of the Welsh Government's VAWDASV Strategy (2022-26), which calls for strengthened multi-agency partnerships to tackle this pervasive issue. We will provide vital resources for policy-makers, service providers, and communities for how agencies can collaborate more effectively to address the needs of BME women.”
Samsunear Ali, Bawso Chief Executive, said:
“We are a service user led organisation. Our service users are involved in the planning, development and review of our services. Being part of this research will give the service users the opportunity to share their experiences of the public services to make improvements. As a research partner, we hope Bawso’s work will also be recognised by the wider sector.”
Michael Bowdery, Head of Programmes at Health and Care Research Wales, said:
“We are thrilled with the high standard of applications for project grants this year. These diverse research projects have the potential to make a significant impact on people's health and wellbeing. The quality of research in Wales will help ensure that our research community remains competitive and continues to thrive.”
