I've had the privilege of undertaking a placement at SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse. This experience has been deeply rewarding, especially knowing that my work will inform stakeholders who are pivotal in shaping UK domestic abuse legislation.
As a Public Affairs Assistant, I dove headfirst into the world of political outreach and influencing. A typical day involved monitoring Parliament, working on policy and influencing webpages for the new SafeLives website, and participating in internal and external sector meetings to align on policy aims. Starting the placement just weeks before Parliament resumed session, I tackled a variety of interesting tasks, including authoring a briefing used in a ministerial roundtable. This was one of my first steps in developing a deeper understanding of the UK's domestic abuse response policy.
Highlights of my placement:
- Planning and attending a Parliamentary event with NatWest I helped retrieve contact details for MPs and conducted "ring-rounds" calls to secure their attendance at a NatWest and SafeLives partnership event. This event celebrated The Circle Fund, a £1 million funding pot given to specialist charities supporting domestic abuse survivors. It was particularly insightful to speak with other partner charities at the event, gaining understanding of the human impact guaranteed by consistent funding to smaller, specialist organisations.
- Team away day at the London Frameless exhibition. The Public Affairs and Policy team away days were truly enjoyable, fostering creativity and stronger interpersonal connections. The London Frameless exhibition was especially memorable – an intriguing and immersive art experience that brought us closer as a team.
- Producing SafeLives' first consultation response on Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA). One of my most significant tasks was writing a briefing and consultation response on CPA to inform updated statutory guidance. I co-produced SafeLives' first-ever consultation response on this topic and even presented the briefing to Home Office officials. While nerve-wracking, this experience was invaluable in pushing me out of my comfort zone and developing my public speaking skills.
Initial challenges and how I overcame them:
Some aspects of my placement were initially difficult. Given the nature of the work, encountering triggering material was inevitable. Thankfully, I utilised SafeLives' flexible working arrangements and had compassionate colleagues for support when needed.
Moreover, the public sector is rife with jargon – at first, it felt like everyone was speaking a foreign language! However, following my manager's advice, I proactively sought clarity from internal SafeLives teams to overcome these initial challenges with sector-specific terminology.
Regarding funding, charity work placements typically aren't sufficiently paid to be liveable. However, as a Gold Scholar, the Scholarship team was very supportive in securing extra funding for my placement. The university also offers useful resources like the Hardship Fund or the Placement bursary for unpaid or low-paid placements.
Final thoughts:
Looking back, I'm grateful for the numerous skills I've acquired, the valuable connections I've made, and the practical insight I've gained into how change happens in the real world. This placement hasn't just been a line on my CV – it's been a masterclass in personal growth, assertiveness, and making a tangible difference.
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