For over 25 years, Sharon Bryan has worked in the field of domestic abuse. She is also a survivor of domestic abuse. In 2020. Sharon set up Sharon Bryan consultancy, a community interest company which involves running the Freedom Programme for women who have experienced domestic abuse. In January 2021, Sharon joined the award-winning National Centre for Domestic Violence as head of partnerships and development for domestic abuse services.
Sharon joins me on the Community Safety Podcast to explain what life is like living with an abusive partner and why she stayed in an abusive relationship for so long. She describes the purpose of her new role working for the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) and why the organisation feels it is so vital to build partnerships with other organisations that come into contact with people that are experiencing domestic abuse in their role. Sharon also shares her concerns that domestic violence is still so prevalent and why the NCDV is so committed to making it completely socially unacceptable.
"I try to be the person that I wish had been there for me and wasn't. Because it's a very, very lonely place when you don't know who to talk to. You don't know if you'll be believed. You can be in a room full of people and feel like you're the only person in there." - Sharon Bryan
Today on The Community Safety Podcast:
● When and why Sharon’s husband’s violent behaviour escalated and what she had in common with other sufferers of domestic violence
● The awful catalyst that led to Sharon fleeing her marriage
● The trauma that children experience when they are caught up in abusive relationships
● How the Assist Database works to help police assist victims of domestic violence
● Sharon’s advice for somebody that is experiencing what she went through
● Sharon’s role as a facilitator for the Freedom Programme and how it gives women the tools that they need to identify abusive behavior
Connect with Sharon Bryan:
● Sharon Bryan Consultancy on Facebook
Connect with The Community Safety Podcast:
● The Community Safety Podcast Website
● The Community Safety Podcast on Facebook