Economic Abuse

For decades, victim-survivors of domestic abuse have been asked, ‘why don’t you just leave?’. This question illustrates a lack of understanding of how coercive control operates, the safety implications for women attempting to separate, as well as the finances required to separate and remain separated. However, a further fallacy is also at play - the assumption that the abuse ends when the relationship ends. Through PhD research with victim-survivors and domestic abuse support workers in Scotland, this presentation will explore the various tactics of economic abuse that perpetrators introduce post-separation to continue their campaign of power and control over victim-survivors’ lives. The session will highlight how post-separation economic abuse includes a variety of interpersonal as well as formal tactics - illustrating how perpetrators are able to facilitate abuse through institutions, such as banks, and via legal processes which are intended to provide justice. With permission from the Domestic Abuse Intervention Program (DAIP), Jenn has adopted the original Duluth Power and Control Wheel to situate the participants’ experiences of post-separation economic power and control and will present this newly adapted wheel to illustrate key findings from her research. Facilitator: Jenn has spent 10 years working in research, policy and educational roles in the field of violence against women. She holds an LL.M. in International Human Rights Law and a MRes in Public Policy Research. Jenn is a PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow, where her research examines economic abuse, the costs of separation and support available for victim-survivors in Scotland. Alongside her role as PhD candidate, she also works as the Banking Specialist for the charity Surviving Economic Abuse. In 2020, Jenn was a visiting scholar in the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University in the US. She has developed an expertise in economic abuse and banking and has undertaken key research collaborations with the Royal Bank of Scotland and is currently seconded to Lloyds Banking Group.

Whilst financial abuse has long been recognised as a form of domestic abuse, recent research has highlighted the overarching issue of economic abuse.  With 96% of survivors of domestic abuse also reporting experiencing economic abuse this session will explore the specifics of economic abuse, both during the relationship and post-separation. It will increase participants understanding of how domestic abuse, also known as coercive control includes economic abuse often including tactics such as sabotaging someone’s employment, taking out debts in their name and ruining someone’s credit rating. It will highlight how economic abuse seeks to trap people in relationships and the challenges that are involved in living with economic abuse, issues around separating, remaining separated safely and rebuilding a life detailing the support that many financial institutions are now offering as a result of greater understanding of this form of abuse. Learning outcomes:

• Understanding the impacts of domestic abuse and specifically economic abuse through theory, research and survivor testimony
• Knowledge of services to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse are able to be signposted to appropriate support.
• Knowledge of the initiatives and support being offered from financial institutions, employers and specialist domestic and economic abuse organisations in Scotland.

  Facilitator: Judy Ferguson, SWA National Training Coordinator. Judy has worked with Women’s Aid since 2011 and also worked with the Scotland SafeLives training team delivering the DA Matters Training Programme to 14,000 Police Scotland staff.  Judy regularly provides training and consultancy to a wide range of multi agency statutory and voluntary bodies including the COPFS, Police Scotland, Social Work, Law Society Scotland, Criminal Justice Workers, Heath, Housing and Violence Against Women & Girls Partnerships etc.  Judy has a wealth of experience informing her practice and a burning passion for working to end domestic abuse and violence against women in all its forms. We can also offer tailor made, bespoke support with training needs analysis, training, policies and procedures and implementing new legislation. We are happy to build a package specifically relevant to your organisation and the needs of your team, building on the work of our domestic abuse specialist trainers across the country.  We are happy to deliver both virtually and face to face, and can accommodate any number of learners. Our training and inputs are fully interactive, engaging and will support your team with practical application of their learning journey with us. Please contact judy.ferguson@womensaid.scot Scottish Women’s Aid’s National Training Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements.