The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (‘the Act’) will transform the national response to Domestic Abuse (DA), protect victim-survivors and their children, ensure they have access to safe accommodation support, and prevent offending. It places a range of Duties on statutory agencies, such as local authorities and criminal justice system. Part Four of the Act requires Herefordshire County Council and Worcestershire County Council to carry out a needs assessment and publish a Domestic Abuse strategy to include delivery of safe accommodation support to victim-survivors, in partnership with people who have lived experience of domestic abuse.

HCC and WCC are developing policies and commissioning arrangements that are co-produced with people who have lived experience of DA. The Lived Experience Project (LEAG) seeks to ensure that both Local Authorities meet the requirements of the Act, including section 401, 'Designing the needs around the victims', based on a model of co-production. Through this work, the voices of victim-survivors across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will inform strategy, commissioning, and delivery of services, improving outcomes. Local service delivery partners will also have access to a reference group of 'experts by experience'

The project has been developed in partnership with Worcestershire Public Health and will be delivered across both counties.