Task

Following an acknowledgement from the Home Office that there was a lack of research into how domestic abuse is perpetrated within minoritised ethnic communities and LGB and/or T+ communities, TONIC was granted funding to undertake research to address these knowledge gaps.

By engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and those with lived experience, TONIC identified 3 key aims to focus this research.

1. To explore, understand and highlight what work is already being done within these communities.

2. Examine the extent existing provision is relevant, accessible and inclusive.

3. Consider how programmes, services and systems could be adapted to better engage these groups, meet their needs and reduce instances of domestic abuse. 

Our Approach

To create a 360-degree view of this topic and achieve the aims highlighted at the beginning of the research, TONIC adopted a multi-faceted approach. This included conducting qualitative interviews, a literature review, an online survey and using Braun and Clarke’s method of Thematic Analysis to consider emergent themes.

Overall, 104 qualitative interviews were conducted and 127 responses to the online survey were received. In regard to the in-depth interviews, 87 were conducted with professionals and researchers working in the domestic abuse sector while 17 were conducted with people who identified as having lived experience, this included professionals with lived experience.

From this research, two interrelated but distinct issues emerged in regard to the domestic abuse within minoritized ethnic communities: language as a barrier to accessing support and cultural nuances in how domestic abuse is perpetrated and experienced by survivors e.g. if a perpetrator restricts a victim’s access to English classes to further isolate the victim. The findings of the LGB and/or T+ section of this research identified a further layer to domestic abuse surrounding identity and experimental abuse as extremely common forms of abuse experienced within this community. 

Outcome

Using the findings of this research, TONIC returned to the original research questions for reflection and identified 5 key areas for action:

1.   Workforce Training

2.   Specialist Lead Workers

3.   Co-Design and Co-Delivery with community led ‘by and for’ groups and leaders

4.   Secure, Stable and Long-term Funding

5.   Accredited Interpreters.

These key areas were highlighted to the Home Office in a presentation led by TONIC in October 2021 and were explained in reference to the findings in further details in this webinar as well as a comprehensive report produced by TONIC that provided in depth information of the research and suggestions.