University of Westminster hosts roundtable to raise awareness of LGBT+ domestic abuse

The aim of the roundtable was to raise the profile of LGBT+ domestic abuse. Despite an increasing awareness of the scale and impact of the issue in general, the researchers and practitioners in attendance highlighted that there tends to be a lack of recognition, understanding and response to cases of LGBT+ domestic abuse.  

During the day, the focus was on knowledge exchange between attendees about current practice and research in England and Wales and identifying future opportunities to work together. The roundtable was also an opportunity to undertake some research with attendees to explore perspectives on what successful outcomes look like when working in this sector, the contribution the sector makes and why there is a need for a specialist LGBT+ domestic abuse provision.

The roundtable was run in collaboration with colleagues from Durham University’s Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse (CRiVA).

Speaking after the event Dr James Rowlands, who secured the funding and is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Westminster, said: “I am really excited that we could bring together practitioners and researchers working on LGBT+ domestic abuse. Bringing this expertise together was an amazing opportunity to understand where we are, what we need to do and think about plans for the future.”

Professor Catherine Donovan from Durham University added: “Westminster’s funding of this kind of event makes a huge difference to a very under-resourced sector in enabling them to come together with the research community and consider joint goals for policy, practice and research.”

Following the roundtable, Dr Rowlands, Professor Donovan and their colleague Dr Kate Butterby will work with attendees to identify how to sustain and build on the connections made on the day, including building an LGBT+ domestic abuse research and practice network and capturing the research findings.

Funding was provided using Quality Related (QR) funds awarded by Research England. The University of Westminster invited Diversity and Inclusion Research Community members to undertake activities that meet community strategic plans and advance capacity of community members to work collaboratively across disciplines both internally and externally to make successful funding bids and develop knowledge exchange partnerships. Funding is intended to help members undertake activities that establish and reinforce networks and partnerships, whether that is bringing them to Westminster or enabling colleagues in the University to go to them in the interest of developing funding bids and the knowledge exchange relationships that can enable this.

This roundtable and project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.

To find out more about the event or if you are a researcher or practitioner working on LGBT+ domestic abuse, contact Dr James Rowlands.