‘Listening is a big step’

Co-developing a multi-agency framework with Black and Minority Ethnic women for Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV)

Project summary
Led by the University of South Wales in partnership with Bawso, the project explores multi-agency working in relation to the needs and experiences of Minority Ethnic women affected by
VAWDASV to co-develop a multi-agency framework for Wales.

Approach
Using Community Based Participatory Research, we are working with 11 Minority Ethnic
women with lived experience, and professionals representing organisations/services:

Two peer researchers (employed by University of South Wales), ex-Bawso service users.
Nine Bawso current/ex-service users.
Organisations/representatives from relevant professions identified through consultation
with Bawso service users: Social Care Wales, CAFCASS Cymru, Midwifery, Health
Visiting, and South Wales Police.

Work to date
Co-developing the multi-agency framework is an iterative process, comprising six full-day inperson workshops. We have held four in-person workshops, with final workshops scheduled
for May and June 2026. Recognising the importance of producing high-quality, engaging,
accessible, and useable materials for professionals / organisations, we have commissioned a
professional designer to work with us. The project is complimented by 32 interviews and 12 coproduced Digital Stories with service users, and a Qualitative Evidence Synthesis. Findings will
be integrated into the final framework and reported on separately, including academic
publications.

Anticipated outcome
Minority Ethnic women with lived experience are informing what multi-agency working should
look like and the outcomes that matter to them. The co-developed framework and
accompanying materials will enhance understanding and support professionals/organisations to best respond to needs and experiences via a multi-agency response.

Timeline
The project concludes September 2026 with a final report submitted to the funder, and a series
of cross-sector workshops (October 2026) to share findings and the framework.

Citati
Service user participation, to me, means having a real voice. It means that people who have lived
through difficult situations are not just being supported, but are also being listened to, respected,
and involved in decisions that affect services. Too often, people with lived experience are spoken
about rather than spoken with. This project changes that (Advisory group member, ex-service
user).
Personally, the project has been an important part of my own healing journey, being with other
survivors who share elements of my own story has validated my own experience and allowed me
to make sense of what happened while working together to create positive, lasting change.
Professionally, the project has allowed me to gain experience and exposure to various aspects
of research, improving my confidence and broadening my skills, and giving me the opportunity
to be a part of an incredible and supportive USW & Bawso project team (Peer researcher, ex-service user).

Further information
Dr Sarah Wallace, Associate Professor, Innovation and Engagement, University of South Wales.
Email: sarah.wallace@southwales.ac.uk
Nancy Lidubwi, Head of Policy, Bawso. Email: nancy@bawso.org.uk

Funding
The ‘Listening is a big step’ project is funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care
Research Wales. The views expressed are those of the author/s and not necessarily those of
Health and Care Research Wales or Welsh Government