Get Out Get Love - Redefining recovery from abusive relationships

Last night I won the spotlight award in the Tech South West awards - in the context of 400 amazing tech companies! This award means a lot, as it signals the work I've done for over a decade to create social impact through technology. With that said, the work also captures the outputs of teams and amazing people I have worked with and who have helped me along the way. For all the work I've done and the benefits people have had, many... many have worked with me and inspired, taught and scaffolded the success... a few of the people I want to share appreciation with (I am sure I will miss MANY... so sorry in advance!). Thanks to you all! I'll need a new awards shelf soon, for our collective efforts! Supporting ALL people in recovery from domestic abuse (digital self-delivered programme) - www.getoutgetlove.com Sammy Ashby, SUDEP Action, Peter Hannon, A/Prof Cordet Smart CPsychol, Lisa Hartill, University of Plymouth, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, John Hodges, Professor Rohit Shankar MBE, Rupert Noad, John Zajicek, Dr Lloyd Humphreys, Lloyd Price, Keele University, Matt Jones, Innovate UK, Innovate UK South West , NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), #FemtechAccelerator, NHS Innovation Accelerator, Health Innovation Wessex, Gemma Snell, Peter Rhodes, William Lilley, Health Innovation South West, Lizz Fields-Pattinson,

Today, we're proud to announce the new cohort for #AcceleratingFemTech, our innovator support programme funded by Innovate UK in collaboration with Medical Research Council.   21 of the best early stage early-stage companies, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics from across the UK have been chosen for their work in driving innovation across a wide range of women’s health challenges.   These innovations have the potential to make a real difference to women's lives, from improving menstrual and reproductive health with advanced diagnostics and wearable technologies to enhancing support for women experiencing menopause.   Meet the new #AcceleratingFemTech cohort: https://lnkd.in/e_HnpQGf

Today, International Men's Day, Greater Manchester launches the UK's FIRST ever gender-based violence plan for men and boys! The plan sets out how Greater Manchester will tackle domestic abuse and sexual assault and harassment towards men and boys, raise awareness of support services and reporting mechanisms, and expand training for professionals. Data from Greater Manchester Police shows that one in five recorded offences of rape and sexual assault in the year ending June 2024 involved male victims. I am incredibly proud to have co-authored the strategy with Prof David Gadd, alongside the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and partners and organisations across the city-region working to end gender-based violence, support victims, and work with perpetrators. In the absence of a coherent national strategy that tackles gender-based violence against men and boys, Greater Manchester is leading the way in launching our own plan, which addresses the full range of violence, abuse and exploitation in which men or boys are victims, and in which their gender, sexuality or intimate relationships are motivating or prevailing factors in their suffering. Victims of gender-based violence face numerous barriers to reporting and seeking support, including fear of disbelief, social ostracism, and lack of awareness about available help. For male victims, there are additional challenges such as societal expectations about masculinity, fear of homophobic reactions, and concerns about the consequences of disclosure. It is crucial to recognise the complex power dynamics in abusive relationships and prioritise support for all victims, addressing their specific needs. Developing comprehensive support for male victims is essential, if we are to truly tackle gender-based violence. In January 2020, Britain’s most prolific rapist Reynard Sinaga was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years for committing 136 rapes against 48 men, with GMP holding evidence that over a 30-month period, Sinaga raped over 200 men – the majority of whom identified as ‘straight’. The case shone a spotlight on the considerable barriers men face in reporting experiences of victimisation. Statistics show that in the year ending June 2024, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) recorded 9,904 offences of rape and sexual assault, of which 1,836 (one in five) related to male victims. In Greater Manchester, the average time taken by male victims to report a current sexual assault to police is four years and less than four percent of reports result in a charge. This is a really momentous day in tackling GBV and I hope that everyone involved is as proud as I am right now. I'm the proudest Mancunian ever today! #HeToo #EndSexualViolence #GBV #VAWG #DomesticAbuse

Excited for next week! Nationally: we have a surprise to announce, but we can't say it until next week. Exciting news! Regionally: Now being shortlisted for 3 tech awards, feel very privileged. Thanks to those who nominated us / me! - Tech for Good Award - Spotlight Award - People's Choice Award #TechSouthWest #getoutgetlove #awards2024

Your solicitor is not your therapist! As a therapist, I write this title as both a plea and out of frustration. I have worked with soooo many clients this year who are discussing their legal bills (some in excess of £200-300k!!) and the extensive conversations they have had with their legal teams about their abusive ex. For those of us who know (victims / therapists) - once the cork is popped, it can be difficult to stop talking about the injustice and total bewilderment of an abusive ex and this can flow out in all sorts of settings (work, friendships and solicitor meetings). I shadowed a legal team once, and saw this first-hand. There is a cost though - by the minute cost - of talking to solicitors about this - and some (I am sad to say) profit on the emotional need of their clients. Has anyone had experience of this, themselves? I've written some tips for people in this situation, to make best use of solicitors and to get their emotional needs met in more affordable places. https://lnkd.in/exK-FA2V #solicitors #divorce #familylaw #domesticviolence #vawg #getoutgetlove