16/10/2026
Founders Friday – Kathy Coe, MBE
I don’t know what the answer would be to the current prison crisis.
I am concerned that another group of prisoners were released early this week, and some of those will have been convicted of domestic abuse.
Having been in prison will they have decided to change their lives?
Or are they simply going to be even more angry towards their ex-partner?
Unfortunately the time in prison rarely includes any rehabilitation programmes, particularly if they are in for a short sentence. My best hope is that the victims may have accessed help for themselves during the time they were away from their abuser.
During my time working with Pathway, one of the most inspiring parts of the job was when I got to deliver a self help group. The moment when the women realised that they were victims of abuse, and they saw the way that they had been manipulated, was amazing. It was like a weight was lifted from them, and the feeling of responsibility for the relationship going wrong was gone. It was such a privilege to share those moments. If I could gift something to every woman in our service that would be the thing I would give.
If you are reading this and are one of the people whose ex-partner has been released, please take care. You need to protect yourself. Remember that there were many times when you were taken in by all of the promises and the lies. Please don’t fall into the same trap. If you would like to talk to someone remember that our helpline is available 24 hours a day.
If you are contacted, or any threats are made you should contact the police. Your ex will be taken back into custody. Once that has happened you can talk to us about how you can protect yourself for the next time that he is released.
For now please accept any help that is on offer.
Call us on 01543 676800.
