West Mercia Women’s Aid received a grant through the Free from Fear programme to support The Penelope Project — an initiative designed to work alongside the armed forces to help victim-survivors of domestic abuse access confidential, independent advice and support. The project enables individuals and their children to move towards safety, recovery, and long-term stability.
Research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King’s College London has shown that armed forces personnel are significantly more likely to both experience and perpetrate intimate partner violence and abuse than the wider civilian population, with more than one in ten armed forces personnel affected. This evidence highlights the urgent need for specialist, tailored responses within military communities.
Against this backdrop, the Penelope Project aims to create long-term, sustainable improvements in the way domestic abuse support is delivered, ensuring services can adapt to the evolving needs of victim-survivors within the armed forces community.
For those connected to military life, the unique pressures of service can make an already hidden crime even harder to identify and address. Few practitioners have a deep understanding of both the military environment and the complex dynamics of domestic abuse. At the same time, the naturally private culture within the armed forces can restrict access for local independent specialist services, creating further barriers to support.
Working in partnership with the armed forces community, the Penelope Project has already transformed the local response to domestic abuse. A steady flow of referrals has emerged, reaching victim-survivors who may otherwise have remained unseen. Importantly, the project supports not only military spouses, but also serving personnel and members of the veteran community.
As part of the project’s practical response, safety devices have been discreetly distributed in accessible locations across the area, offering a vital lifeline to those who may need support at a moment’s notice. In addition, with the support of those working within the military community, the project has launched ambassador training, with 60 participants already taking part. These ambassadors play an active role in raising awareness of drop-in clinics, available safety tools, and the wider support network available to them.
Project Coordinator Leoni Bryan reflected on the impact of the work:
“The funding from the Armed Forces Covenant has allowed us to prevent, provide, and promote domestic abuse provision in our areas using specialist knowledge and a person-centred approach to the particular barriers this community faces.
Understanding military culture and terminology supports victim-survivors to access trauma-informed services within the Penelope Project, helping to prevent stressful and re-traumatising experiences within general domestic abuse services.
The support we have received from the military community has been outstanding — from spouses completing ambassador training, to welfare teams supporting victim-survivors, and military bases allowing access to community spaces. Seeing this community come together with a shared goal of supporting the most vulnerable creates a powerful and lasting legacy of support.”
Feedback from those supported by the Penelope Project reflects the meaningful difference this specialist approach has made:
“I wouldn’t have gotten here without everyone’s support. Thank you for listening, understanding, and supporting me. I feel like I’m starting to see the light at the top of a dark hole and beginning a new chapter.”
“I didn’t even know this service existed. Getting information and advice at a baby and toddlers group on camp made such a difference. I feel more confident about my rights and parental responsibility. Leoni made sure I stayed in control of my information and gave me time and respect.”
“Compassionate, personal, kind.”
“You have been there for me every step of the way. I am now safe, my children are safe, and I have my life back. I hope one day I can give back to someone else and would love to complete the ambassador training when the time is right.”
In our November newsletter, we shared a case study from the Penelope Project. You can read Ruby’s story here:
https://www.westmerciawomensaid.org/one-in-twelve-rubys-story/
