16 Days of Activism - Day 9

Improving healthcare responses to Domestic Abuse: IRISi's mission against Gender-Based Violence

Navigating 16 essential insights from our work: delving into IRISi's impact through IRIS and ADViSE Programmes in a special feature for PEGS' 16 Days campaign.

1) How has IRISi been improving the healthcare response to Gender-Based Violence?

IRISi, established in 2017, is a social enterprise dedicated to enhancing healthcare responses to gender-based violence (GBV). Collaborating with partners, we develop evidence-based interventions, and provide expert advice and consultancy in the field of Domestic Abuse (DA) tailored for different healthcare settings.

2) Understanding the scale: what is the impact of domestic abuse on health?

Domestic abuse affects 26% of women in their lifetime, escalating to 41% for those attending general practice (CSEW, 2016; Richardson et al., 2002). With devastating health impacts, the annual cost of domestic abuse to health is £1.7bn (Walby, 2009). We aim to address this by supporting the local commissioning, implementation and sustainability of our programmes, which are tailored according to the specific needs of each healthcare setting.

3) What is the IRIS Programme?

IRIS, our flagship intervention, operates in primary care and is a specialist training, support and referral programme for General Practices. Positively evaluated in a randomised controlled trial, it significantly improves the healthcare response to DA.

4) How does IRISi provide local support to expand the IRIS Programme?

We actively support the local commissioning and growth of the IRIS programme, providing bid development, training for trainers, ongoing support and national analysis. This collaborative is crucial not only in bringing this initiative to more areas, but also in developing innovative, evidence-based health interventions for those affected by GBV.

5) How does IRIS work?

IRIS is a collaboration between primary care and third-sector domestic abuse specialist services. The initiative focuses on providing ongoing training, education and consultancy for clinical and administrative staff. Core areas include care pathways for practitioners and an enhanced referral pathway to a named specialist in a local DA service for patients.

6) What is the role of the Advocate Educator (AE)?

Every general practice joining the IRIS programme is supported by a named Advocate Educator, who provides crucial support to both the practice and patients identified during consultations. This ensures a personalised and effective response to DA.

7) What type of support do survivors receive?

The IRIS programme is designed and based on a survivor-centred model. This framework ensures that every patient identified and referred to our programmes receives support through a comprehensive approach by the AE, making sure that they have assistance tailored to their individual needs.

8) What does IRIS bring to General Practices?

General practices benefit from in-house, specialist DA training, ongoing support, health promotion materials, and enhanced safeguarding responses. The programme streamlines the referral pathway for patients and reducing response time. All those who complete the IRIS training gain CPD points.

9) Does IRIS increase referrals from General Practices?

Our ongoing evidence indicates that the IRIS programme increases referrals from general practice for patients affected by DA. Sustained funding for IRIS programmes is crucial for maintaining these positive outcomes.

10) What are the outcomes of the IRIS Programme for funders and commissioners?

The IRIS programme is nationally recognised and evidence-based, providing a cost-effective intervention for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and other commissioning bodies. Its positive impact includes improving the safety, quality of life and well-being of survivors, who reportedly see their GP and other general practice clinicians less frequently after being identified and supported through the programme.

11) Is it worth investing in the IRIS Programme?

The first areas implemented IRIS in 2010. From that point onwards, many other studies have been conducted to show the amplitude of this intervention, which is now running across the UK in more than 50 localities. Produced in 2022, “The social value of improving the primary care response to domestic violence and abuse: A mixed methods Social Return on Investment analysis of the IRIS programme” is one of those studies and it concludes:

For each pound invested in the IRIS Programme, a monetary return of £16.79 is expected.
For each pound invested in the IRIS Programme, a social return of £10.71 was obtained.

12) Has IRIS been nationally endorsed?

In 2021, the UK implemented the Domestic Abuse Act to enshrine a a comprehensive response to DA in legislation. The accompanying Domestic Abuse Statutory Guidance, issued by the Home Office in July 2022, targeted both statutory and non-statutory bodies, and recommended: “Implementing the IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) Programme. IRIS is an evidence-based intervention to improve the general practice response to domestic abuse through training, support to practice teams and having a DA specialist embedded in practices. It is nationally recognised as best practice and has informed NICE guidance.”

13) What is the ADVISE Programme?

The ADViSE programme extends the success of IRIS to sexual health clinics, supporting clinicians to identify and respond to patients affected by Domestic & Sexual Violence and Abuse (D&SVA). This evidence-based programme also ensures a simple referral pathway to a named specialist in a local frontline service.

14) How does ADViSE identify and support a wider range of patients?

Aligned with the demographic typically served by sexual health clinics, ADViSE also facilitates the identification of a more extensive and diverse range of patient groups, providing visibility and support for individuals from minority groups.

15) How does ADViSE work?

ADViSE supports staff in recognising and responding to patients affected by D&SVA, offering direct referrals to specialist services. As with IRIS, the programme also strengthens local networks, increases safety and boosts staff confidence in responding to D&SVA.

16) Why sexual health clinics?

Women affected by Domestic Abuse are three times more likely to face gynaecological and sexual health problems. ADViSE, which was piloted successfully in Bristol and East London, addresses this gap by training sexual health practitioners to identify, respond and refer effectively.

To find out more about our work, please visit www.irisi.org.

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Allen Lane Foundation Supports New Workshop Lead Role to Expand Support for Parents

By PEGS Admin • March 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Allen Lane Foundation has generously funded a new Workshop Lead role to coordinate and deliver online workshops for parents and carers affected by Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA) over the next 12 months. Parents and carers affected by CPA are often isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn. Our 2024 survey shows that 96% of parents feel isolated, 94% stressed, 92% scared, and 100% report an impact on emotional wellbeing. Over 70% have had to reduce or leave work. With demand for support rising to over 450 referrals per month and a 116% increase in November 2025 there is an urgent need for structured, accessible help. Expanding Online Workshops and 1:1 Support The new Workshop Lead will deliver a weekly online workshop for up to 15 participants, covering practical and emotional wellbeing topics such as stress management, goal-setting, and specialist techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Alongside the weekly sessions, the project will also run: Bi-monthly two-part specialist workshops Monthly wellbeing workshops By taking the lead on workshop delivery, the Workshop Lead will free up our practitioner team to provide more personalised one-to-one support to high-risk parents, reaching an additional estimated 50 parents in need. Over 12 months, we anticipate that over 200 parents will benefit directly from group workshops, gaining tools to manage risk, improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and build confidence. The workshops will also create a safe space for peer connection, helping to reduce isolation and foster resilience. Measuring Impact We will track success through attendance figures, participant feedback, and pre- and post-workshop surveys to capture changes in confidence, coping strategies, and wellbeing. Practitioners will also monitor the effect of increased one-to-one support to ensure parents feel safer, supported, and better able to manage their situation. Michelle John, our founding director, says: "Allen Lane Foundation’s continued support enables us to reach more parents and provide the practical guidance and personal support they urgently need. This Workshop Lead role will make a real difference, helping parents feel safer, more confident, and connected, while allowing our practitioners to provide targeted one-to-one support where it’s needed most." We are incredibly grateful to the Allen Lane Foundation for their ongoing belief in our work. This funding allows us to expand our online support, reach more parents, and provide both group and personalised assistance for those affected by CPA.