An innovative course to help women break free from domestic violence is being launched across the North-East. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports.

THE Bully glares, shouts, smashes things and sulks. The Jailer stops you from seeing your friends, tells you what to wear and keeps you in the house. And the Sexual Controller rapes you, won't accept no for an answer, keeps you pregnant or rejects your advances. Violent men come in all sorts of guises and these are just some identified by the Freedom Programme, a 12-week course exploring domestic violence.

Darlington Domestic Violence Forum co-ordinator Claire Seymour, who ran the first course in the North-East, says: "We call this man the Dominator and all of the women on the course recognised him immediately. They all sat there nodding because they were all familiar with the tactics he used to dominate and control them."

The Freedom Programme was developed in Merseyside by former probation officer Pat Craven and was launched in 1999. The course aims to educate women about all aspects of domestic violence, giving them the understanding and confidence to take control of their relationships and perhaps leave their violent partners. Research carried out in women's refuges on Merseyside showed that those who had taken part in the programme were far less likely to return to a violent relationship.

It was introduced to the North-East in September by DDVF and the borough council's Lifelong Learning scheme. Around 15 women attended the course, some of whom were victims, while others wanted to learn more to support relatives or friends.

It proved so successful, it will be rolled out across County Durham in the new year. Durham and Darlington Crime Reduction Partnership will pay for 20 volunteers to train as course facilitators with Pat Craven.

'When we first heard about the course, we thought it sounded fascinating but we had no idea just how well it would work," explains Claire. "Some of the women actually told us it had helped them to change their lives. One woman who took part went home and talked to her children about the situation for the first time, another described it as her saviour."

The course takes the form of a series of informal meetings, where women are encouraged to talk about their own experiences. It aims to help them identify abusive men and understand the way they think. It also encourages them to consider the impact of domestic violence on children and offers practical information about what to do if they want to leave a violent relationship.

Joy Easterby, who ran the course jointly with Claire, is a former victim of domestic violence and now draws on her own experiences to help others in a similar situation. She believes the course is so successful because it empowers women.

She says: "It's about learning to see what's going on. When you're in a violent relationship, it's all a blur. It's so confusing you can't identify what's happening and something like this can help you do that.

"I think the women who take part begin to understand what's going on. Knowledge is a very powerful thing and if you know what's happening to you, you can be proactive."

Some of those who took part in the Darlington course were controlled by their partners to such an extent they had to sneak away. Some didn't want to take leaflets home with them because they knew it wouldn't be safe if their partner found them.

"It was very difficult for some of them but I think it gave hope to those who came," says Claire. "They saw other women who have been through the same thing and come out the other side. It's not easy but it is possible. One woman came to one session and she just cried non-stop, but she came back the next week because she knew it would help her."

At the first session, the women were shown a picture of the Dominator and discussed the different tactics he uses to intimidate and control them.

Claire says: "We look at all those different aspects of violent men but it isn't all negative. We don't just sit there and rubbish men, we introduce them to Mr Right as well. It shows them that there are alternatives, that there are loving men out there.

'Another of the things we talked about was how to spot an abuser. There is no single pattern but there are warning signs. At the end of the last session, we asked the women to put their heads together and come up with a letter. It was a lot of fun but serious too and it makes people think very carefully about the kind of relationship they're in."

The Freedom Programme is just one of the initiatives introduced by DDVF to support the victims of domestic violence. As well as traditional services, including outreach work and women's refuges, the organisation provides access to help through its website. Women can set up their own e-mail address so they can receive information and advice. They can even begin the applications process for an injunction against a violent partner online, and in the new year, Claire is hoping to be able to offer online advice.

She says: "Reported incidents of domestic violence have gone up by 40 per cent over the last couple of years. That doesn't mean domestic violence is increasing but people have more confidence to come forward and ask for the help they need.

"It shows the agencies who deal with domestic violence are doing their job well. We want to change people's attitudes, we want them to realise that it isn't acceptable, and with programmes like this, we are doing that."

* The next Freedom programme will start on January 14 and everyone is welcome. It will take place in a venue in central Darlington and a creche will be available. For more information, contact Claire on (01325) 346809 or 07810 54239 or visit the website at www.ddvf.org