Walking on Eggshells: Ending Male Violence Against Women – Key Learnings

One of the strongest themes to emerge was the need to pay closer attention to older victims of domestic abuse. Through our short co-produced film exploring coercive control and domestic abuse in older adults, Eggshells, delegates saw how easily coercive control can be overlooked in later life, especially when harmful behaviour has been normalised over decades. Many older women carry long-standing beliefs about duty, marriage and privacy that make disclosure incredibly difficult. Practitioners shared the importance of slowing down, listening closely and offering support that respects the survivor’s pace rather than rushing toward solutions.

The story of Kerri, delivered through immersive audio, shifted the focus to children who witness domestic abuse, particularly boys. Delegates reflected on the heavy emotional burden these boys often carry, sometimes without the language to make sense of it. Some internalise harmful versions of masculinity, others become withdrawn, anxious or overly-responsible. Schools frequently notice changes first, and yet access to therapeutic support remains inconsistent. What became clear is that boys need space, honest conversations and supportive adults who can help them make sense of their experiences rather than shielding them from difficult conversations.

Later in the day, Sadiqa’s story opened an important discussion about so called honour-based abuse and violence. Delegates explored the heightened risks involved when abuse is embedded within extended family or community networks. They talked about the need for cultural humility, specialist support and thoughtful planning around interpreters, communication and practitioner safety. It was a powerful reminder that safeguarding cannot rely on standard pathways alone, it must be flexible enough to meet the unique and complex realities survivors face.

We ended the day by returning to Jessica, the fictional practitioner delegates had created that morning. Imagining her feeling overwhelmed and unsure of her impact quickly became a wider, heartfelt conversation about vicarious trauma and the emotional realities of frontline work. Many recognised Jessica’s struggles as their own. Delegates spoke openly about the need for good supervision, healthy team cultures and leaders who model realistic boundaries. The message was simple but vital – if we want practitioners to safeguard others, we must safeguard practitioners too.

Across all these conversations, creativity played an essential vital role. Film, audio, character creation and music helped the learning to land emotionally as well as intellectually. Delegates left with a deeper sense of connection, not just to the stories they heard, but to each other and to the purpose of their work.