Developing the Feminist Research into Violence and Abuse (FRIVA) Hub at the University of Leeds

Members of the School of Law are developing an interdisciplinary network for scholars of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Background

Members of the School of Law are developing an interdisciplinary network for scholars of violence against women and girls (VAWG). We will lever our unified, collective identity to maximise our visibility to, and potential for engagement with, policymakers, practitioners, external academics, activists and victim-survivors. We warmly welcome you to join us.

What will FRIVA do?

There is already much VAWG-related research underway in different schools and faculties at the University of Leeds. For example, the Centre for Global Security Challenges has a strand on Gender and Security, there are multiple projects on disability and domestic abuse / sexual violence (see here, here, here, and here), whilst the Shiloh project examines rape culture, religion and the Bible. An AHRC-funded network is exploring the relationship between creative writing and coercive control legislation. Studies of rurality and domestic abuse, women's safety in public parks and domestic abuse service providers and their stories provide further examples.

FRIVA will facilitate new links between staff and PGRs across the university, and between FRIVA and LUU feminist student societies. We will connect with external VAWG-related research groups including at universities in Durham, Bristol, Liverpool, Middlesex, Hull and overseas (eg, Monash, Australia), and within the Vulnerabilities and Policing Futures ESRC Research Centre. Associate Membership will be available to practitioners and policymakers, organisations and external academics that share FRIVA’s values, as developed during the workshops (see below). FRIVA’s vibrant research environment will maximise opportunities for collaboration, impact, outreach, and activism.

Growing FRIVA and agreeing our purpose and principles

Interested staff and PGRs are invited to an initial workshop from 2.00–3.30pm on Wednesday 13 November 2024 (venue TBC). This will be followed by two further workshops (February 2025 and April 2025) and an external engagement event, as described below:

Workshop 1: The first workshop will bring together prospective FRIVA members. After introductions, we will identify our parent schools / disciplinary backgrounds, our research interests and ongoing / future projects, and our collaborative partners. We will also devise a realistic and achievable plan for events and the co-ordination of activities. Sign up for Workshop 1 here.

Workshop 2: We work in a sensitive area and FRIVA members may hold different views on important issues. This workshop will formulate our collective principles, values and purpose.

Workshop 3: In Workshop 3, we will refine the format of the external engagement event and list of invitees.

External engagement event (65 people): Our engagement event (June 2025) will include focus group discussions of local and national research needs with key stakeholders, with live scribing (to appear on our website). The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (Alison Lowe OBE) and the Director of West Yorkshire’s Violence Reduction Partnership (DCS Lee Berry) have agreed to attend. This event will act as a ‘soft launch’ for local practitioners.

Information gathered from practitioners and policymakers will inform FRIVA’s first manifesto. This will articulate our purpose, principles and priorities and act as a platform for future activities. The manifesto will appear on the FRIVA website. The launch of the website and manifesto will mark the official launch of FRIVA, accompanied by university-wide marketing activities.