The Haven Wolverhampton has hosted visits and worked in partnership with a number of voluntary organisations in Saudi Arabia to tackle the issue of Domestic Violence on a global level.
Vists
March 2008
In December 2007 a report was compiled by INTRAC - The International NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Training and Research Centre which included recommendations for strengthening the capacity of Saudi Charities.
The report showed a synopsis of information about 9 charities in Saudi Arabia and identified that the charities needed different levels of training in order to improve their performance.
The Haven was approached by members of INTRAC about the training project in late 2007 and asked to provide information about services and other International work. As a result in March 2008 INTRAC hosted a visit of senior representatives of Saudi charities and The Ministry of Social Affairs to the UK and The Haven was contracted to deliver part of the training programme.
A training and awareness programme was delivered to the Saudi visitors which covered:
- How victims of domestic violence are supported through the Criminal Justice System in the UK;
- Management of a hostel for women and children;
- Partnership relationships between Voluntary and Statutory sectors, in a joint effort to tackle Domestic Violence;
- UK Legislation on DV;
- Support available for victims of domestic violence
The training programme detailed The Haven's vision for all women and children to live in a society free from oppression, homelessness, violence and abuse and to promote and uphold human rights, as well as information on UK domestic violence statistics and national targets. The visitors were also given in depth information on The Haven's mission statement, the structure of the organisation, strategic aims, services available, performance monitoring, appeals and other training programmes available.
The visitors were with us from Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th March and during their three days at The Haven the Saudi internationals were greeted by various representatives from the Haven and other organizations including the police and the Wolverhampton Magistrates Court. They also received talks and presentations from different departments within the charity including staff from Children's Services, Advocacy and Fundraising as well as visiting one of the hostels to see first hand the work carried out by The Haven.
Our visitors were very impressed with our work at The Haven and expressed thanks and gratitude for the training they received. They commented "Thank you for your hospitality and the great efforts you extended" and "You taught us what we really needed".
View the full timetable and agenda of the visit
December 2008
In December 2008 The Haven Wolverhampton hosted a visit from Senior Representatives of the Saudi National Family Safety Program (NFSP).
The National Family Safety Program (NFSP) was established following a Royal Decree (No. 11471/MB) to provide the provision of care and adequate services for the victims of this violence.
Ms Madeha Al-Ajroush (NFSP Board Member) and Dr Majid Al Eissa ( Head of Medical and Social Services Section of NFSP, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics) attended a week long training programme on Domestic Violence which covered theoretical background on Domestic Violence, National UK strategies and practical approaches e.g. services for victims. Particular attention was paid to multi-agency and partnership working. The visitors attended a meeting hosted by the Wolverhampton Domestic Violence forum which focused primarily on Domestic Violence and Alcohol. The event was attended by various stakeholders and agencies from across Wolverhampton who work to provide Domestic Violence provision in the City. The visitors also had a meeting with Jan Toplis, Head of Service for Safeguarding Children and Young People from Wolverhampton City Council to cover support services available for children in Wolverhampton.
Our visitors were impressed with the work of The Haven and positive about the training programme. Evaluation and feedback forms were completed and stated that the training had helped reflect on their own attitudes, values and work practices. Our visitors stated: ‘All we have asked for was delivered in a very comprehensive and informative way’ and ‘Very well organised and informative’.
The Saudi National Family Safety Program (NFSP) was set up to develop new services for victims of domestic violence in Saudi Arabia. Ms Madeha Al-Ajroush and Dr Majid Al Eissa stated that they intent to use the knowledge received to create domestic violence training programmes for professionals working in this new sector to support victims who only recently had nowhere to go.
We are grateful to the British Embassy in Riyadh for supporting and sponsoring the training visit from Saudi Arabia.
View the full timetable and agenda of the visit
September 2009
After establishing initial links, representatives from the NFSP approached The Haven Wolverhampton in early 2009 expressing an interest in creating a more detailed and in depth programme for a group of nine delegates from across Saudi Arabia, all of whom strive to raise awareness of and work to support women and children affected by abuse, to receive specilaised training. The NFSP approached a number of organisations from across the globe and eventually chose The Haven Wolverhampton to deliver the training sessions.
The training programme took place between the 28th September and 9th October 2009 in Wolverhampton and incorporated modules from The Haven Wolverhampton’s existing NOCN accredited Domestic Violence awareness training programme as well as visits, presentations and workshops to external organisations including Wolverhampton Police Domestic Abuse Unit, Wolverhampton Magistrate Court and Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Team. The visitors learnt how to respond to a Domestic Violence crisis call, how to set up and run a refuge, UK Civil and Legal practices and legislation on Domestic Violence, Multi-Agency working and much more. All trainees were given training packs which consisted of literature and materials on all of the programmes modules. As part of the programme a ‘Train the Trainer’ session was delivered so that the visitors could return to Saudi Arabia and sufficiently deliver similar training programmes to their friends and colleagues.
Our visitors were very impressed with The Haven Wolverhampton’s work and extremely positive about the training programme. Feedback from the visitors indicated that they were happy with the variation of the programme and that they had learnt to reflect on their own attitudes towards Domestic Violence.
Our thanks go to the delegates from Saudi Arabia, the British Embassy in Riyadh for supporting the visit and to all of The Haven Wolverhampton staff and volunteers and external stakeholders who worked extremely hard to make this a very successful visit.
View the full timetable and agenda of the visit |
