Big Lottery Fund
Men’s Advisory Project – case study
Men’s Advisory Project / Grant: £7,750 in 2014
Belfast, Northern Ireland / James Knox, Project Co-ordinator
Getting the project off the ground
The Men’s Advisory Project (MAP) helps men experiencing domestic abuse and domestic crisis. The founders set up MAP in response to a growing awareness that men, as well as women experience partner abuse. There are many reasons why men may find it difficult to acknowledge what is happening and to seek help. These include embarrassment or shame, fear of not being taken seriously or being blamed, and a desire to protect a partner or children. There are also relatively few services which offer help for men. MAP works across the whole of Northern Ireland from offices in Belfast and Foyle. It began in Belfast but was able to expand its work to the whole of NI with government funding.
Figure 1 Group discussion
Project activities
MAP provides free, confidential counselling for both men and women and gives information about other sources of help and support. Project Co-ordinator James Knox also works hard to raise awareness of domestic abuse against men, an issue which is often ignored or hidden. Part of his job is to make presentations and deliver training to organisations like the police, health staff, councils and local community including Women’s Aid. He is also a regular speaker at conferences on domestic violence.
As James explains, the questions people ask at conferences and training events show the preconceptions that exist about violence against men:
“The first question people ask is how many of our service users are gay. They assume the violence is being done by men to men. Then they ask how many men are actually perpetrators making false allegations against women. They find it very hard to get their heads around the idea that men can be abused by women and that it does happen. We are getting the message across, but there are a lot of myths we have to dispel.”
The number of people MAP works with has increased from around 300 to nearly 600 in the last year. The majority of clients are men experiencing domestic abuse or relationship breakdown, or wanting help to deal with powerful emotions. However, MAP also offers counselling for women who want to learn how to manage their anger.
MAP’s counsellors are all volunteers who provide their services free of charge. MAP advertises for volunteers via its website, professional bodies, colleges and word of mouth. Somevolunteersoffer their time as part of their studies towards a counselling qualification, but the majority are already fully qualified and experienced. MAP also has supervisors who oversee the work of counsellors. In the last year MAP has had 30 counsellors providing regular sessions for clients. Typically an episode of counselling will run for around six sessions, but currently there is no limit on the number of sessions a client can have. The main benefit of MAP’s services isthat they are free, but men and women who approach MAP also know that counsellors will not be judgemental and are experienced in dealing with issues around domestic abuse. As James says:
“Ability to pay is never an issue. Our services are free of charge. However, we do ask people to make a voluntary contribution if they can and many of them do.”
Outcomes and impacts
MAP provided over 1,700 hours of counselling in the last year. Clients complete an evaluation form after the last session, and the feedback they have given shows overwhelmingly how MAP’s services are helping people to cope better on an emotional and practical level. James says:
“Counselling helps men and women to understand their emotions and to manage them differently. This leads to fewer incidents of domestic violence and better relationships. Counselling also helps people who feel stuck in a situation to take the practical steps necessary to change things – for example by going to see a solicitor or getting advice on housing options.”
MAP’s work is beginning to pay off in terms of raising awareness of the fact that abuse against men exists and is a big enough issue to be taken seriously by policy makers and service providers. For example, MAP has been invited to take part in Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs), which are meetings of a range of professionals involved in individual cases where people are at high risk
James believes that raising awareness of the issue amongst both professionals and men generally is an ongoing priority for MAP. The Big Lottery Fund award has helped to pay for publicity materials such as posters and leaflets, which MAP distributes as widely as possible.
It is hard to measure the difference MAP’s awareness raising work has made, but one indicator is the increase in both men and women seeking help. Another is that domestic abuse against men is being acknowledged in national and local commissioning approaches. Most importantly for MAP, the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Board has accepted that there is a need to fund services for men and works in partnership with MAP, providing core funding for the project.
Sustainability
MAP is pleased to have support from the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Board and funding from the Tudor Trust for the Co-ordinator’s post.
The award from the Big Lottery Fund is helping MAP to develop a new strategic plan which aims to ensure the sustainability of the project into the future. Board members, MAP’s two staff and volunteer counsellors are all involved in developing the plan. The purpose of the new plan is to make sure that MAP is doing the right things and that it has a secure funding base to continue.
One of the main priorities MAP has identified is preventing abuse before it happens, as well as helping people who are already experiencing domestic violence. James believes there is a need for more education and awareness raising in schools and youth agencies. He also says more work needs to be done with organisations such as the Police to make sure staff on the front line understand the issue. Once the plan is completed MAP will seek funding to deliver the priorities they have set themselves.
Learning
James thinks that the main learning from MAP’s work is that it takes a long time and a lot of repeating the same message over and over again to begin to shatter the myths that exist about violence against men. MAP has also discovered that tackling the issue involves a combination of helping both men and women involved in abusive relationships; working with professionals to help them understand how best to recognise and respond to male victims, and helping men themselves to feel able to acknowledge what is happening and seek help.
©| January 20161
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