Respect launches new five-year strategy

Today we're publishing our new strategy: “Stopping the Harm: A Strategy for Change”, charting a course for Respect's ambitions over the next five years. Developed with insights from our members and colleagues across the domestic abuse sector, the strategy clarifies Respect’s unique role as a membership body, as well as setting out the charity’s updated vision, focus, mission and values.

Read our strategy   Read our strategy one-pager

Read an accessible version of our strategy

At the heart of the strategy are three key outcomes, which are essential to achieving our mission: stopping the harms done by those who perpetrate domestic abuse. These are:

• A comprehensive range of specialist perpetrator responses in every local area
• A state response to the perpetration of domestic abuse which reflects the scale, nature and urgency of the problem
• A wholesale shift in social attitudes leading to a reduction in domestic abuse

To achieve these outcomes, we are focusing on two strategic priorities:

• Creating a Centre for Excellence, which brings together practice and research evidence and expertise to create a step-change in understanding what works to end the perpetration of domestic abuse
• Influence for systemic change: building an ambitious influence programme that will push for radical change in policymaking, commissioning and the funding of specialist and statutory services

We know that how we work is as important as what we do, so we also outline our approach to delivering the news strategy, focusing on:

• Fundraising, business development and sustainability
• Equity, diversity and inclusion
• People and culture
• Membership at the heart of our approach
• Coordinated action built on solid relationships

This strategy is ambitious, and we know we can’t do this alone. These outcomes rely on everybody playing their part, across the voluntary and statutory sector, parliamentarians, policymakers, funders, commissioners, employers and many others, working together to create big shifts in systems and society’s response to the perpetration of abuse. We cannot do it all, but we can have an impact by remaining focused and clear on our contribution to change.

We would like to thank our members, partners, and colleagues from across and beyond the sector, whose expertise and feedback was vital in shaping our strategic direction.