Transforming the Family Court for Domestic Abuse Survivors

In early 2023, something powerful began to take shape in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. West Mercia Women’s Aid (WMWA) was commissioned by the local councils to do something simple – but revolutionary: listen. The goal was to reach out to those with lived experience of domestic abuse and involve them directly in shaping the services and strategies that affect their lives.

That work led to the birth of the Lived Experience Advisory Network (LEAN) – a small but determined group of volunteers who came together to create change. At their very first meeting, one issue came up again and again: the Family Court.

For these survivors, the courtroom hadn’t felt like a place of justice – it felt like another battleground. They spoke of not being believed, of systems that didn’t understand the dynamics of abuse, and of being retraumatised by a process meant to protect them. Abusers, they said, could and did use the court to continue their control – through delaying tactics, manipulation, and even the misuse of contact orders.

At WMWA, these stories weren’t new. They echoed what we’d already been hearing from the people we support. So we took their concerns straight to the local Domestic Abuse Partnerships. And to their credit, Public Health commissioners in Worcestershire listened. They brought together a working group—including representatives from CAFCASS, Children’s Social Care, the Police, and WMWA – to explore how victims’ voices could truly be heard and understood in the Family Court.

A Groundbreaking Conversation

One of the group’s first moves was to reach out to the designated family judge for the area. What followed was a landmark moment: representatives from public health, Women’s Aid, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) were invited into the courtroom. For the first time, those on the frontline of domestic abuse support were able to sit down with those inside the system and have an open, honest conversation about what needed to change.

It quickly became clear that focusing on just Worcestershire wasn’t enough – the Family Court spans both Worcestershire and Herefordshire. So the scope of the work expanded. Now, the group operates with a clear governance structure and strong buy-in from all the agencies involved. Each partner knows their role – bringing insights in, taking action out, and feeding into wider strategic boards like the Local Family Justice Board (LFJB) and the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board.

The group has already identified key themes to work on – like improving the in-court experience for survivors – and members volunteer to lead on each area. With structure and collaboration in place, this partnership has caught national attention as a model of innovation.

Learning from Others – and Leading the Way

Of course, this isn’t just a local issue. Back in 2020, the government published the “Assessing Risk of Harm to Children and Parents in Private Law Children Cases” report—known more widely as The Harm Panel Report. It laid bare the systemic failings in how the Family Courts handle domestic abuse. In response, a small number of ‘Pathfinder’ programmes were set up across the UK to pilot better ways of supporting victims and informing judges.

These Pathfinder pilots were game-changers. By embedding domestic abuse specialists in the court process and producing informed reports for judges, they created a more trauma-informed, victim-aware environment. And now, the success of these trials has paved the way for more Pathfinder areas to be launched—including ours.

We’re proud to share that the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Family Court has been chosen as one of the next Pathfinder areas, with the programme launching in November 2025 and running through to March 2029.

West Mercia Women’s Aid has been selected as the domestic abuse support agency for this initiative – not just for our local area, but also for Shropshire and Telford, as the Wolverhampton and Telford Family Court will also join the Pathfinder programme.

From Listening to Action

What began in 2023 as a conversation with survivors – just a few voices brave enough to speak out – has now grown into something with the potential to transform lives. This is what happens when people with lived experience are truly heard. When professionals come together across boundaries. When there’s a shared commitment to not just talk about change, but make it happen.

At WMWA, we’re ready. The groundwork is laid. The partnerships are strong. And most importantly, the voices of survivors are leading the way.

Find out more about the LEAN (Lived Experience Advisory group) or email yourvoice@wmwa.org.uk