Truth or Dare: Our call for collective courage

During this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence starting on 25 November, we are challenging frontline professionals to reimagine their approach to domestic abuse.

Our ‘Truth or Dare’ campaign highlights stark statistics that reveal the systemic issues that perpetuate cycles of abuse, while also empowering professionals with actionable solutions:

The Truth:

• Only 20% of frontline professionals feel truly confident to engage with domestic abuse perpetrators
• 1 in 4 perpetrators of domestic abuse are repeat offenders with multiple victims
• Manipulation and victim blaming remain systemic barriers to meaningful intervention
• Childhood experiences profoundly shape adult behavioural patterns
• As a society, we still put the burden of leaving an abusive relationship on the victim instead of holding the perpetrator to account
• Fewer than 1% of the more than 400,000 perpetrators across England and Wales get a specialist intervention that might prevent further abusive behaviour

The Dare:

The campaign also dares professionals to take action in response by:

• Challenging their own unconscious biases
• Actively engaging with perpetrators while ensuring victim safety
• Developing essential skills to recognise abusive behaviours and signpost to behaviour change interventions
• Creating supportive environments that can lead to genuine change

Each truth we face isn’t meant to discourage – it’s a call to be courageous and take action. By challenging our perceptions and changing our approach, we can create a ripple effect. Imagine the collective impact if every professional took just one step forward and made one small change to how they approach domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse is a crisis affecting millions, with many incidents remaining unreported and perpetrators slipping under the radar. Professionals working with families, victims and perpetrators – such as GPs, teachers, and social workers – are vital to creating a society free from violence and abuse.

Chantal Hughes, Hampton Trust Chief Executive

Download campaign resources here