Domestic violence prevention strengthened by charity partnership

Domestic abuse prevention will be strengthened through a new partnership between the University of Essex and a leading charity.

Department of Psychology students will be embedded within Essex-based organisation the Change Project.

There they will take an active role supporting the charity’s work and developing a deeper understanding of the links between psychology, domestic abuse prevention, intervention and education.

Undergraduates will be helped by the University’s relationship expert and department Director of Education Dr Veronica Lamarche.

Dr Lamarche set up the partnership to give students the chance to make meaningful contributions to communities.

The first student to take part is final-year undergraduate Malavika Sudheer, who is volunteering with the Change Project in a communications role.

'Meaningful contributions to help prevent domestic abuse'

Malavika will apply her degree by collaborating across the organisation and gaining first-hand experience in delivering clear, accessible and engaging communications that support domestic abuse prevention.

She said: “I’m really excited to be a part of the Change Project, as it’s allowed me to combine my interest in psychology, communications and community engagement.

“I’m looking forward to developing my communication skills and making meaningful contributions to help prevent domestic abuse.”

Making a real difference 

Dr Lamarche praised the partnership and said: “We’re very excited to be working alongside the Change Project to support healthier relationships and help address domestic abuse in our communities.

“This placement gives Essex psychology students hands-on experience applying the skills they have developed during their studies while making a real difference in the lives of others.”

The Change Project delivers tailored domestic abuse prevention programmes and training courses designed to empower individuals and professionals, support communities, and provide accessible, professional counselling.

Valuable experiences

Zara Travers, Training and Development Manager at the Change Project, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Malavika to our team.

“Her passion for our work and her ability to apply psychological insight to content creation really set her apart.

“Our volunteering opportunities allow students to put their learning into real-world settings, giving them a competitive edge when entering the job market or progressing to further study.

“As someone who volunteered at a domestic abuse organisation during my undergraduate studies, I recognise how valuable these experiences are and how they helped shape my career.”

The charity plans to open future volunteer roles across other areas of the organisation, welcoming students from the University of Essex from any subject area.

For more information or to register interest, visit the Change Project online.