Our courses

All courses are one-day in length unless otherwise specified.

General VAWG courses
Children & Young People's Project courses
Health Project courses
Stella Project courses

The Children & Young People's Project training courses

Children Under Ten Years Old and Domestic Violence

The course will look at basic domestic violence theory and specifically how children under ten years old are affected. Focus will be given to behavioural, emotional and cognitive effects on children under ten years old, as well as the links between domestic violence and child abuse and the effects on mother-child relationship.

The Community Group Project UK

AVA can be commissioned to provide training, materials and support to your agency (and your partner agencies) to equip you to deliver The Community Group Programme (if you are based outside of London).

Prevention Work Training for Primary Age Teachers and Youth Workers

This course will look at basic domestic violence theory with a focus on the impacts on children between five - ten years of age. The course will cover behavioural and emotional impacts but with particular information on cognitive development and the effects of domestic violence on a child's education.

Prevention Work Training for Secondary Age Teachers and Youth Workers

The course will look at basic domestic violence theory with a focus on the impacts on children between 11 - 18 years of age. The course will cover behavioural and emotional impacts but with particular information on cognitive development and the effects of domestic violence on a young person's education.

Young People and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

This course will focus particularly on the experiences of adolescents as victims and as perpetrators of violence against women and girls. Related issues such as teenage pregnancy, specific issues faced by boys, barriers to accessing services, sexual violence and gangs will be covered. The course also explores the issue of young people as perpetrators of abuse towards dating partners and/or family members.

The Health Project training courses

Basic Mental Health Awareness Training: for domestic violence workers


This course will explore attitudes around mental health in the context of domestic violence. Based on the AVA toolkit Sane Responses, the day covers key guidelines of good practice in support of women who have mental health difficulties, appropriate methods for asking about mental health and options to support women after disclosure.

Improving Your Working Relationships with Service Users through Counselling Techniques

This course explores the means to develop a powerful working relationship with clients who have experienced violence against women and girls, through respect, fostering control, setting boundaries and being trustworthy. Concepts such as non-judgmental acceptance and empowerment are explored.

The Links between Mental Health and   Domestic Violence

This course is specially designed for non-specialist workers who wish to gain an insight into both domestic violence and mental health and whose clients may present with both issues.

Managing the Secondary Effects of Working with Violence Against Women and Girls

This course is designed to help professionals understand and identify the dynamics and psychological issues arising from work with victims of  violence against women and girls. Support is given to address the issues with the client and to promote strategies for self-care, highlighting the appropriate use of supervision and debriefing.

Supporting Survivors to Recover from the Impacts of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) - Depression and Anxiety

This course introduces cognitive-behavioural techniques for supporting women who feel depressed or anxious after experiencing violence against women and girls to regain their well-being.

Supporting Survivors to Recover from the Impacts of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) - Injured Self-esteem


Self-esteem is often mentioned but hard to describe. This course outlines different aspects of self-esteem and the ways it can be injured by violence against women and girls.

Supporting Survivors to Recover from the Impacts of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

This course is designed to help professionals identify signs of post-traumatic stress (PTS) in women who have experienced violence against women and girls and to explore different aspects of complex PTS.

Supporting Survivors to Recover from the Impacts of  Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) - Unresolved Anger

This course is based on principles that all feelings are healthy, that beliefs influence how we express feelings and that we can complete 'unfinished business' or unresolved anger in a safe way, using techniques adapted from experiential therapies.

Working with Domestic Violence Perpetrators within mental health settings
This course looks at identifying domestic violence perpetrators, giving safe messages and making appropriate referrals upon identification.

Meeting the mental health needs of domestic and sexual violence survivors

This accredited course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to effectively meet the mental health needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

The Stella Project training courses

Troubled Families, Problematic Substance use and Domestic and Sexual Violence

Domestic and Sexual violence is often present or has been present in the lives of 'troubled families.' Participants will gain knowledge on the links between DV/SV and problematic substance use, as well as what support and interventions can be effective with individuals and families experiencing these dual issues.

Alcohol and Domestic Violence: for domestic violence workers

This course aims to equip participants with a basic knowledge of alcohol, its effects on the body and how it may be used problematically by survivors of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence, Substance Misuse and BAMER communities - Level 1


This course looks at the overlapping issues of domestic violence and problematic substance use for women from the Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic and Refugee communities.

Domestic Violence, Substance Misuse and BAMER communities - Level 2


This course looks at how practitioners can work with the overlapping issues of domestic violence and substance use for women from the Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic and Refugee communities, with a focus on particular communities, exploring pathways to seeking help and how to engage and work with women.

Domestic Violence - Theory and Practice Level 1: for the drug/alcohol sector


Participants will explore the behaviours which constitute domestic violence and the ways in which substances are used by both survivor and perpetrator. The complexities in leaving violent relationships will also be covered alongside legal and child protection issues.

Domestic Violence - Theory and Practice Level 2: for the drug/alcohol sector

This course will build on learning undertaken in the Domestic Violence - Theory and Practice Level 1 training, by focusing in-depth on the issues of domestic violence risk management and safety planning within the context of drug and alcohol services.

The Links between Domestic Violence and Problematic Substance Use

This course is specially designed for non-specialist workers who wish to gain an insight into both domestic violence and drug/alcohol sectors and whose clients may present with both issues.

The Links between Sexual Violence and  Substance Use

This two-day course will look at all forms of sexual violence (including child sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape) and the links to problematic substance use  (including illegal drugs, prescription medicines and alcohol), within a context of post-trauma responses and coping mechanisms.

Promoting Good Partnerships: between the domestic violence and drug/alcohol sector

This interactive and action packed training session focuses on bringing together practitioners from the drug, alcohol and domestic violence sectors to enhance inter-agency working.

Safeguarding Children - living with parental substance use and domestic violence

This course looks at the overlapping issues of domestic violence and substance use and examines the impact of these on families, with a particular focus on safeguarding children.

Substance Use - Theory and Practice Level 1: for domestic violence workers

This course will explore attitudes and beliefs around drugs and alcohol as well as exploring the different types of substances and how they can be used and misused within a domestic violence context.

Substance Use - Theory and Practice Level 2: for domestic violence workers

This course aims to build on topics introduced in the Substance Use - Theory and Practice Level 1 training by giving participants more in depth information and skills to work with problematic substance users in a domestic violence agency.

Supporting Women in Refuges Experiencing Problematic Substance Use

This course has been specifically designed for refuge workers to reflect the legal and practical complexities of working with residents who are using substances. Delivered in partnership with the nia project, who run a specialist refuge for women with problematic drug or alcohol use, the course can be adapted for a one or two day programme.

Working with domestic violence perpetrators within a substance misuse agency

This course looks at identifying domestic violence perpetrators, giving safe messages and making appropriate referrals upon identification. It will also explore theoretical perspectives around domestic violence, the links to substance misuse and the perpetrator's choice to use violence.

Working with gang-affected young women experiencing sexual and domestic violence

This accredited course is delivered in partnership with Women & Girls Network and will equip you with the knowledge and skills to work effectively with young women affected by gang-related domestic and sexual violence.

This course addresses how to identify and respond appropriately, in partnership, to young people who are experiencing both sexual and/or domestic violence and problems with alcohol and other drug use. The course draws on research findings from the Stella Project Young Women's Initiative.

Working with young people experiencing sexual and domestic violence and problematic substance use - Level 2

Building on learning gained through the  Level 1 course, this course offers more in-depth learning around young people's help-seeking behaviour in relation to sexual and domestic violence and alcohol and other drug use, the needs of marginalised young people, early intervention and prevention strategies and engaging and involving young people. The course draws on research findings from the Stella Project Young Women's Initiative.

Violence Against Women training courses

Safeguarding Against Forced Marriage and so called Honour-based Violence

The course is designed to increase participants' knowledge and awareness of forced marriage, so called 'Honour Based Violence' and to offer space for reflection on current and future work approaches in order to operate within a good practice framework.

Violence Against Women and Girls - Creating your approach

This training and consultancy package will equip the participating local authority to produce a well-structured and workable local violence against women and girls strategy.

Domestic Violence Awareness

This one day course looks at definitions of domestic violence, myths and statistics, reasons why it is difficult to leave an abusive relationship, indicators of domestic violence and how to provide support to those affected. It will provide you with information on local and national services available and referral processes.

Domestic Violence Awareness for Housing Workers

This one day course will train staff from voluntary or statutory housing agencies on domestic violence with a focus on the experiences of their client groups.

Please contact Jude Long, Training & Events Co-ordinator, if you would like to have any of these course delivered in-house or click here for information on when these courses are being delivered as open training.