FAMADA was established in 2024. As a small team, we have experience of working as Independent Domestic Violence Advisors, social workers, academic researchers, teachers, mental health workers, data analysts, project managers and grant fundraisers. Most importantly, our team has lived experience as family members of loved ones in abusive relationships. We run a lived experience/survivors board who meet twice a year to give feedback to the service.

Directors

Anna – Anna is a social worker with a background in mental health as well as working in domestic abuse and addiction in the charity sector. She has worked with survivors / victims of domestic abuse for over eight years and is also a training facilitator specialising in domestic abuse.

Angela Hudson – Angela has been a qualified Social Worker for the past 38 years, specialising in child protection and children in care. She has been a team manager and an independent reviewing officer. For the past four years, she has worked in domestic abuse and is a qualified independent domestic violence advocate (IDVA). Throughout her career she has always maintained an interest and passion for supporting survivors of domestic abuse. She believes family members are crucial in supporting and keeping loved ones safe, both during and following an abusive relationship. In her spare time, Angela enjoys pilates, aqua aerobics and getting lost in a jigsaw!

Lucy – A teacher and childcare professional with 20 years experience working with young people and their families. Lucy loves yoga and walking in the Surrey Hills.

Harriet Ward – Harriet Ward CBE is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Rees Centre, Oxford University and Emeritus Professor of Child and Family Research at Loughborough University, UK. She has over 30 years experience as a research director and field researcher, as an adviser to policymakers and service providers, and as a social work practitioner. Harriet’s research focusses on the relationship between the state and the family both now and in the past; recent studies have focussed on the outcomes of child protection interventions when infants are at risk of significant harm; the capacity of parents to overcome adverse behaviour patterns (including domestic abuse) and provide nurturing homes; and the outcomes of open adoption from care. Findings from Harriet’s research programme have underpinned developments in policy and practice concerning child protection, looked after children and adoption in the UK, the USA, Australia and parts of Europe.

Advisory Panel

Tom Holden – Data Advisor

Lived experience/ Survivors Board

Emma

Lucy