Echo: Embedding Authentic Voice in Bolton, Leicestershire and Sheffield

Echo is an innovative project spanning Bolton, Leicestershire and Sheffield which aims to transform responses to domestic abuse by ensuring survivor voices are at the centre of design and delivery of policies and services.

In 2023, thanks to National Lottery players, SafeLives received more than £1.44m from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, for a community led approach to ending domestic abuse. The three-year project will deliver a blueprint for embedding child and adult domestic abuse survivors’ voices in community approaches to preventing, and supporting recovery from, domestic abuse.

Echo, led by SafeLives in collaboration with local partners, is putting local organisations and survivors at the heart of tackling domestic abuse by supporting them to share lived experience to develop best practice.

The project aims to:

  • Deliver a sustainable model for embedding child and adult survivors’ voices in the design and delivery of policies and services intended to meet their needs
  • Engage with survivors to co-create and test solutions to getting the right support at the right time, for children and adults
  • Support practitioners to engage with a diverse range of survivors by creating an environment that enables survivor voice to thrive in order to inform services
  • Evaluate impact and social value, making recommendations for sustainability in these three areas, as well as guiding nationwide scalability.
  • Embed authentic voice in systems, helping to inform future commissioning practice through a risk led response
Play video

Echo: putting the voices of survivors at the heart of responses to domestic abuse

Why ‘Echo’?

The name Echo was designed and chosen by SafeLives Pioneers and Changemakers:

As Maya, a SafeLives Changemaker explained:

 The name ‘Echo’ was chosen to reflect the project’s core goal; ensuring that the voices of survivors are heard, shared, and amplified throughout the research and design process or, in other words, ‘echoed’ throughout the domestic abuse response. It also highlights our intention to ‘echo’ this survivor-centred approach across all three locations, ensuring consistency and impact in our work. Through this approach, we aim to create sustainable, survivor-led models that will help drive long term, positive change for those affected by domestic abuse.

As a pilot, Echo’s achievements will help deliver a national blueprint for embedding child and adult domestic abuse survivors’ voices in community approaches to domestic abuse.

Get involved – For survivors and services

From sharing feedback through surveys and interviews, taking part in workshops and group sessions, to co- production and development, there are different ways for survivors to be involved with Echo. The project takes an inclusive approach that welcomes voices from across all communities, from adult and child survivors alike.

Who are we working with?

SafeLives is working alongside leading local services who will ensure that survivors are supported to share their voices safely, empowering them to use their experiences to help change and save lives.

  • In Bolton we are working alongside Bolton City Council and with frontline services Endeavor and Fortalice.
  • In Leicestershire we have partnered with Living Without Abuse, working closely with Leicestershire County Council.
  • In Sheffield, our partners are Sheffield Mind and Haven alongside Sheffield City Council

Incorporating Authentic Voice into systems and services is not a luxury, but a necessity. Project Echo, the first of its kind in Bolton, Leicestershire and Sheffield, will give survivors a voice and a platform to influence change in domestic abuse services. The project values the lived experiences of survivors and aims to shape local services based on what is working and what needs improvement. It helps change the perception of individuals and families affected by domestic abuse and builds an infrastructure that truly meets the needs of the community.

Shana Begum, SafeLives Pioneer who is helping lead the project in Bolton
Play video Webinar opening screen showing Echo Project - Jan 2024 to Dec 2026

Rewatch our Echo launch webinar

Hear from our team about how survivors and professionals can get involved with Echo.

I am proud to be the lead Pioneer in Sheffield for Project Echo. As a survivor I know that nothing should ever be about us without us. I truly hope Echo will be the start of a domino effect, inspiring others to follow and ensuring that survivor voices become embedded across all responses to harmful practices, domestic and sexual abuse. Only then can we ensure organisations involved in creating safe spaces are fully informed by what we need to overcome abuse. By using our voices we hope Echo will inspire more survivors to come forward to seek help and empower them to use their own skills to create change.

Annie, SafeLives Pioneer, helping lead the project in Sheffield

Any local survivor wishing to get involved can register their interest in our form below

Register your interest

You can read our privacy notice here

For more information please email contact the team

echoproject@safelives.org.uk

The Echo Project Partners

Bolton Council

Visit the Bolton Council website

Endeavour

Endeavour in Bolton provides a range of domestic abuse services for people and their pets. We are a registered charity offering a wide range of...

Endeavour

Endeavour in Bolton provides a range of domestic abuse services for people and their pets.

We are a registered charity offering a wide range of services including front line community based support, group work and counselling for those affected by domestic abuse.

Learn more about Endeavour

Fortalice

Fortalice is a Bolton-based charity providing frontline services for people who are, or have been, affected by domestic abuse and violence.  Our support includes refuge...

Fortalice

Fortalice is a Bolton-based charity providing frontline services for people who are, or have been, affected by domestic abuse and violence. 

Our support includes refuge accommodation, local community services, education and accredited training for professionals. 

Learn more about Fortalice

Living Without Abuse

Living Without Abuse (LWA) is a domestic and sexual abuse charity based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and was formerly known as Loughborough Women’s Aid. We provide...

Living Without Abuse

Living Without Abuse (LWA) is a domestic and sexual abuse charity based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and was formerly known as Loughborough Women’s Aid. We provide support to men, women and children affected by domestic abuse and/or sexual violence across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Learn more about LWA

Leicestershire County Council

Visit the Leicestershire County Council website

Leicestershire County Council

Sheffield Mind

Sheffield Mind is a Mental Health Charity providing emotional and practical support to people in Sheffield with mental health issues. Learn more about Sheffield Mind

Sheffield Mind

Sheffield Mind is a Mental Health Charity providing emotional and practical support to people in Sheffield with mental health issues.

Learn more about Sheffield Mind

Haven

Haven is an independent charity providing specialist services in the Sheffield area for children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Learn more about Haven

Haven

Haven is an independent charity providing specialist services in the Sheffield area for children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

Learn more about Haven

Sheffield City Council

Visit the Sheffield City Council website

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Survivor voices

A group of experts by experience came together and named themselves the SafeLives Pioneers, because they want to use their experiences and passion to change the world. Their voices inform everything we do, and together we aim to transform the response to domestic abuse in the UK – for every victim and survivor and their children.

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