Authentic Voice toolkit for MARACs in Scotland

Embedding Authentic Voice in the MARAC process

At SafeLives, we believe Authentic Voice is non-negotiable – it sits at the heart of everything we do. Listening to and learning from the experiences of victim-survivors of domestic abuse is essential to improving how systems respond and ensuring they are safe, effective, and person-centred.

The Authentic Voice Toolkit for Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) in Scotland has been developed to support MARAC partnerships to embed survivor voice meaningfully within their processes.

This toolkit enables MARACs to reflect on how survivor experiences are understood, represented, and acted upon during multi-agency discussions. It is grounded in the six Authentic Voice principles, which set out how services can meaningfully involve and learn from survivor voices safely and ethically.


What’s included in the toolkit?

The toolkit brings together a range of practical resources designed to help MARAC partnerships strengthen how Authentic Voice is embedded in practice. It supports continuous learning, reflection, and improvement across multi-agency responses to domestic abuse.

 

Play video

Authentic Voice Animation

The Authentic Voice Animation shares powerful insights from survivors, helping professionals understand what the MARAC process can feel like from a victim-survivor perspective.

Co-produced with members of the Scottish Authentic Voice Panel, the animation explores the journey of being referred to a MARAC and highlights how the process can better support survivors.

It reflects lived experiences of:

  • Feeling guilt and shame
  • Questioning decisions and outcomes
  • Navigating uncertainty during referral and assessment

 

The animation emphasises the importance of ensuring survivors are:

  • Seen, heard, and believed
  • Empowered to regain control of their lives
  • Supported to move from victim to survivor
  • Safer as a result of MARAC involvement
  • Part of a process that holds perpetrators to account

 

It also outlines practical ways to improve the MARAC experience for survivors, including:

  • Clearly explaining what will happen and why at the point of referral
  • Providing transparent information about the MARAC process and attendees
  • Giving survivors time and space to consider their priorities
  • Communicating outcomes and next steps after the meeting
  • Creating opportunities for survivor feedback through MARAC steering groups

How to use the animation

The animation can be used across a variety of settings to embed survivor voice into system and service design in a sustainable, high-quality, and trauma-informed way, including:

  • Professional training sessions
  • Conferences and presentations
  • Awareness-raising and campaigns
  • Reflective practice and team discussions

More resources coming soon

We are continuing to develop additional resources to support MARAC partnerships in Scotland to embed Authentic Voice more effectively. Please check back for updates.

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