Training & Resources

The training and resources we provide are based on our domestic abuse practice and academic research expertise. We offer a wide range of professionals in touch with victim-survivors of domestic abuse new and innovative training that is vital in terms of safeguarding all survivors – adults, children and animals.

Our training is facilitated by Mary our Founder and Chief Executive Officer with support from the team. We are also a member of The Links Group and often co-deliver training with our Links Group partners.

Mary Wakeham-Founder-Refuge4PetsDr Mary Wakeham, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mary has over 15 years practice experience working in the domestic abuse sector, including founding Refuge4Pets in 2017 driven by her passion to enable freedom from domestic abuse for all victim-survivors, both people and animals. She is also an academic researcher with a specialism in the dynamics and implications of animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse. In 2021 Mary completed her PhD in the Centre for Gender and Violence Research at the University of Bristol titled Animal Abuse as a Strategy of Coercive Control which was the first in-depth study to explore this issue in the UK.

Training Course:
Animal Abuse as a Strategy of Coercive Control: Safeguarding People and Animals
(Co-delivered with our Links Group partners)

This free training course aims to increase awareness about the dynamics of animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control used by perpetrators. The specific learning outcomes are:

  • To increase understanding about how and why perpetrators abuse animals to coerce, control and entrap human victim-survivors of domestic abuse.
  • To raise awareness about the implications of animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse for all victim-survivors – adults, children and animals.
  • To promote the importance of considering animals in the safety plans of families escaping domestic abuse and provide professionals with practical tools and resources to do this.

This training course is designed to build on previous domestic abuse training to develop participants’ knowledge about the complex dynamics of animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse.

‘The training was fantastic and so great to see. I have never had training like this before so it would be incredible if we could see it being rolled out more widely’.

‘This was brilliant training – I feel a lot more confident in approaching this prevalent issue’.

‘I have completed the training before, however I really get a lot from revisiting your training and love that you are always updating and modifying the content to keep it current and evolving’.

Next Date:
Friday 6th December 2024 from 10am to 12:30pm

To book your place email info@refuge4pets.org.uk

Delivery
This training course is  free and is delivered online via Microsoft Teams.

Participants will receive training materials and resources following the session which include a guidance document and officially adapted and approved Duluth Wheels (Power and Control Wheel and Abuse of Animals Wheel).

We can also offer bespoke training for organisations so please contact us on 0300 4000 121, or by emailing info@refuge4pets.org.uk to discuss your training requirements.

‘I just wanted to say a huge thank you for accommodating us as a group for the training, it was a really interesting session and a great space to be able to discuss some of the cases we come across’. 


Refuge4Pets Training Resources

Animal Abuse as a Strategy of Coercive Control, Wakeham, M. (Author). 28 Sep 2021*

*To avoid plagiarism please cite and reference our training and resources. If you are not sure how to do this, or have any queries please do get in touch.