New panel gives domestic abuse survivors a voice in policymaking and service reform
Croydon Council has launched a pioneering initiative that puts the voices of domestic abuse survivors at the heart of its strategy to combat Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Thirteen women with lived experiences of abuse have joined the borough’s newly formed “Expert by Experience” panel, tasked with helping shape local services, inform policy, and ensure community-led responses to gender-based violence.
Meeting for the first time this week, the panel members were welcomed by Executive Mayor Jason Perry, who reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling VAWG as a core priority under the Mayor’s Business Plan 2022–2026.
The women, representing a cross-section of Croydon’s diverse communities, will advise on barriers to support, improve access to services, and bring real-world perspectives to the council’s strategy. Among them is Karen Kelly, a survivor who stressed the significance of lived experience in policymaking. “It is really important to have the voices of victims and survivors on the panels where decisions are being made because unless you have been through it, you will never completely understand it,” she said.
Kelly added, “The more we can get a voice out there for women and girls who are victims of abuse, whether that’s domestic violence or other violence, the smaller the circle of opportunity for the perpetrators becomes.”
Croydon has one of the highest reported incidents of gender-based violence in London. Each year, over 1,500 referrals are made to the council’s Family Justice Service (FJS), which provides direct support to victims. The FJS also delivers specialist training to more than 200 frontline professionals in partner organisations to help them recognise and respond to abuse.
The creation of the Expert by Experience panel is a key component of Croydon’s first VAWG delivery plan, launched last year. The plan outlines practical steps to address both immediate safety needs and long-term service gaps. Central to its approach is early intervention—offering information and support before abuse escalates—as well as community collaboration, especially with the police, healthcare services, and grassroots organisations.
Mayor Jason Perry said he was “privileged” to meet the new panel and hear first-hand accounts of their experiences. “Having the voices of victims and survivors inform our decisions and services is a key part of our VAWG delivery plan,” he said. “We are very grateful to all the panel for giving their time and support to this initiative.”
He reaffirmed Croydon’s mission to create a borough where every woman and girl can “live free from violence and fear,” and said that working closely with residents and partners was essential to that goal.
The council has encouraged ongoing feedback and involvement from community members as it continues to deliver its VAWG plan. Further updates on the panel’s contributions and the impact on service delivery are expected to follow in the coming months.
Croydon’s approach reflects a growing national recognition that survivor-led frameworks are vital to designing effective, trauma-informed public services. By embedding survivors into the heart of its reform agenda, the borough hopes to not only improve services but also signal a wider cultural shift—one that prioritises listening, empathy, and accountability.
