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Domestic violence scheme is a blueprint - academic

Katy Prickett
BBC News, Peterborough
Anglia Ruskin Universtity Dr Mirna Guha who is sitting in a lecture room. She is seated and turning towards the camera wearing a dark blue jacket over a blue and white top. She has long curling black hair.Anglia Ruskin Universtity
The Peterborough scheme could be replicated in regions affected by the postcode lottery in provision, according to Dr Mirna Guha's research

A project that tackles domestic abuse experienced by women of Asian heritage could be a blueprint for others around the country, according to a researcher.

Dr Mirna Guha, a, senior lecturer in sociology at Anglia Ruskin University, has highlighted the success of the Dahlia Project, run for and by British Pakistani heritage women in Peterborough, at a London conference.

It has received about 200 referrals since launching in 2023, including from women of African Caribbean, Middle Eastern and South East Asian backgrounds.

Dr Guha said the project was "making a real difference in Cambridgeshire, but we need more projects like it across the country to end this postcode lottery of provision".

Emma Baugh/BBC An out-of focus picture of a woman with plants and lamps in the foreground at a women's centre. Emma Baugh/BBC
The Dahlia Project was the first "by and for" provision for Asian women experiencing domestic abuse in the county

Run by Peterborough Women's Aid, the Dahlia Project was started in July 2023 and is governed by a board of Asian men and women.

It was set up after research by the university, which has campuses in Cambridge, Peterborough and Chelmsford, Essex, found organisations such as the police were not always culturally equipped to help the women and many victims felt alone.

Dr Guha, who is also the university's deputy head of the school for humanities and social science, helped secure Home Office funding for the project.

It was the first "by and for" provision for Asian women experiencing domestic abuse in the county, according to the university.

Anglia Ruskin University Dr Mirna Guha and Supt Jasvinder Kaur standing side-by-side in a room. Dr Guha is on the left and has long curling black hair pulled back from her face and is wearing a cream jacket over a black top. Supt Kaur has black hair pulled behind her head and is wearing a dark jacket over a cream patterned top.Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Guha (above with Supt Jasvinder Kaur) wants all victims of domestic and sexual abuse to receive "high-quality support, regardless of their location"

Nationally, there is a significant shortage of support services provided by and for women from minority backgrounds, Dr Guha said.

She added she has been leading initiatives to address this by fostering racially diverse leadership within services that tackle violence against women and girls.

She presented her findings at the launch of the HUM Leadership Model for Emerging Leaders conference earlier this month.

The conference also featured a speech by Supt Jasvinder Kaur, the domestic abuse lead at Suffolk Constabulary and co-founder of the National Women of Colour in Policing UK.

Dr Guha said: "Evidence from my research will support efforts by the domestic abuse commissioner [for England and Wales] to advocate for a dedicated national 'by and for' funding pot.

"This would ensure minoritised victims-survivors across England and Wales receive high-quality support, regardless of their location."

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