When Caroline* heard about the Make a Change programme and suggested to her partner he should get involved, she wasn’t sure what the future of their relationship would be.
Caroline’s partner started on the programme around the time Caroline moved out of their shared home. She had decided to end the relationship after more than a decade together, but Caroline felt there was still a chance they would get back together.
As part of the programme, a support worker was put in touch with Caroline to offer her separate, confidential support. Over the next seven months, they spoke on the phone as often as Caroline wanted to. The support worker helped Caroline cope with the big change she had made in her life and kept her updated on her ex-partner’s progress on the programme. Caroline could also let her support worker know if her ex-partner contacted her, or if anything happened that she was worried about, so that it could be fed back to the people working with him.
Caroline said, “The most important thing was being heard. I didn’t feel like I could talk to my family and friends about what was going on. It was very isolating. The support helped me realise how bad things had got. My support worker was absolutely wonderful and I can’t praise her enough.”
During the time Caroline was being supported by Make a Change, she was trying to get used to a new home and life without her ex-partner. Caroline’s support worker helped her to reflect on her relationship and supported her to build her independence. By the time they finished working together, Caroline had decided she would not be going back to the relationship.
Caroline said, “the support gave me the strength to carry on. It helped me break away, stop contact with him and move on with my life.”
*The survivor's real name has been changed to preserve her privacy
To find out more about Make a Change, visit their website or email the team.
