It was a year like no other. As the challenges of the global pandemic continued, so did the urgent need for our work. Lockdown measures created a conducive context in which abusers could exercise economic control.
With increased need came increased emergency funding for our cause. Our income doubled, allowing us to grow our team and infrastructure, and take on new projects in our mission to raise awareness of economic abuse and transform responses to it.
provided more support for victim-survivors and professionals than ever before
influenced policy-makers to adopt an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill that would criminalise domestic abuse that takes place after a relationship has ended.
110 pieces of media coverage in local and national media
We trained more than 1,000 professionals from a range of sectors
Professionals supported with 340 complex cases involving economic abuse
450 victim-survivors supported by the Financial Support Line
98 mentions of economic abuse in Parliament (compared with 24 in 2019-20)
“I pay special tribute to Surviving Economic Abuse, which has campaigned on the issue of post-separation economic abuse with such determination and skill, in response to concerns raised by victims and survivors.”
Baroness Lister in the House of Lords, on the post-separation amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill that SEA called for
What we achieved
We work through four strategic priorities to create change and made huge progress in each area this year.
Awareness-raising
In 2020-21, we cemented our position as the UK’s leading voice on economic abuse. We reached millions with information about this form of control.
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In 2020-21, we cemented our position as the UK’s leading voice on economic abuse. We reached millions with information about this form of control, through:
110 pieces of coverage in print and broadcast media.
a new website with 140,000 page views.
an interactive online guide, nominated for the Charity Times award for ‘Best Use of Technology.
31 information resources for survivors on topics including debt, housing and pensions.
We also advised Coronation Street on the coercive control storyline, reaching five million people, and hosted a series of winter webinars with more than 1,000 attendees.
“I can’t begin to tell you what a great job you are doing. Thanks to you, my friend is now beginning to see options which previously were unimaginable to her.” Friend of a Survivor
Professional responses
We provided more support to the frontline professionals working with victim-survivors of economic abuse, and to financial services, than ever before.
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We provided more support to the frontline professionals working with victim-survivors of economic abuse, and to financial services, than ever before.
We advised frontline professionals on 340 complex cases involving economic abuse, from settings including domestic abuse charities andmoney and debt advice services.
We provided training on economic abuse to 1,000 professionals from domestic abusecharities, money and debt advice services, housing providers,localauthoritiesand financial services.
We launched the Financial Support Line, together with Money Advice Plus, which offered regulated money and debt advice to 450 victim-survivors of domestic abuse. SEA’s expertise in economic abuse underpins the service, offering training and support to the line’s advisers.
“I just wanted to say thank you for all the support and advice I was given. [It] was perfect for my needs as someone who wanted to get to grips with the… abuse.” Victim-survivor calling the Financial Support Line
Systems change
This year, we have piloted new initiatives, including the Economic Abuse Evidence Form, to create change at scale, allowing more victim-survivors to access economic justice.
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We strive for industry-wide changes to systems and processes that support victim-survivors to access economic justice. This year, we have piloted new initiatives to create change at scale.
One of SEA’s Banking Specialists has been seconded to work with Lloyd’s Banking Group full-time as part of our ground–breaking banking work. We have supported the response to more than 130 cases involving economic abuse.
Through our award-winning partnership with Money Advice Plus, we piloted the Economic Abuse Evidence Form (EAEF) to transform how creditors and debt advice services support people experiencing economic abuse.
“This is the first month that a payment hasn’t gone out of my account for the debt in over 13 years and I finally feel like I’m free.”
Policy influencing
We achieved major success in influencing the Domestic Abuse Bill successfully calling for the legislation to recognise post-separation abuse.
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We achieved major success in influencing the Domestic Abuse Bill. Together with support from SafeLives and other organisations, we successfully called for the legislation on Controlling or Coercive Behaviour to be extended to post-separation abuse. This would lead to Controlling or Coercive Behaviour becoming an offence even if the victim is no longer in a relationship with or living with the perpetrator.
“I entirely agree with the Surviving Economic Abuse charity raising the issue, and it has done an important public service in doing so.” Alex Chalk MP in the House Commons, June 2020, on the post-separation amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill that SEA called for.
We also undertook a major research project, The Cost of Covid-19 – a research project to explore the experiences and needs of victim-survivors facing economic abuse by a current or former partner during the Covid-19 pandemic. We used the findings of this research to support our proposed amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill, as well as influence financial services firms and employers on actions they could take to support victim-survivors.
Working alongside survivors
Working alongside victim-survivors is critical. Their courage in relaying stories of economic abuse is fundamental to raising awareness and influencing policy. In 2020-21, members of the Experts by Experience Group spoke on live television and radio, had their stories recounted in the Houses of Parliament, participated in panel discussions, recorded podcasts and consulted on policy.
Layla’s story
During 24 years of marriage, Layla’s husband was controlling and coercive, both economically and emotionally. He would use threats and physical intimidation to pressure her into transferring money into his bank account, to let him use her credit card, and to sign over the equity in their home.
The post-separation amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill that SEA successfully campaigned for could change the lives of Layla and others in her position.
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During 24 years of marriage, Layla’s husband was controlling and coercive, both economically and emotionally. He would use threats and physical intimidation to pressure her into transferring money into his bank account, to let him use her credit card, and to sign over the equity in their home.
The economic coercion continued after separation. He forced her to sign over more equity, continued to run up bills on the credit card and stopped contributing to mortgage payments. The abuse has left Layla with debt totalling half a million pounds.
Years after the divorce, Layla continues to pay debts that the abuser has put in her name. Layla does not live with the perpetrator and is not in a relationship with him, so she has not been able to access justice for his ongoing abuse.
The post-separation amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill that SEA successfully campaigned for, extending the Coercive or Controlling Behaviour offence to post-separation abuse, could change the lives of Layla and others in her position.
“This type of abuse has affected every part of my daily life; it has seemed to be endless and has left me feeling helpless and powerless to affect change. Knowing this will now be a criminal offence is a huge relief. I am delighted and proud that my story has helped raise awareness and played a part in pushing this much needed amendment through.”
Layla
