First cohort of university trainees complete placements with Swindon abuse prevention programme
A pioneering partnership between Swindon charity Society Without Abuse (SWA) and the University of Bath is helping train the next generation of forensic psychologists while strengthening efforts to tackle domestic abuse.
The first cohort of MSc Forensic Psychology students has now completed year-long placements on SWA’s Open2Change programme, which works with people aged 16 and over who recognise harmful behaviours in relationships and want to make positive changes.
Over the past year, Sophie Grimshaw and Nethmi Udugama Koralalage from the University of Bath have worked alongside SWA’s specialist Behaviour Change team, gaining practical experience while supporting the delivery of the Open2Change programme.
Following an intensive induction and training programme, mirroring that provided to newly appointed members of staff, the students were able to work under the supervision of experienced Behaviour Change Workers to deliver one-to-one interventions for individuals seeking to address harmful behaviours in their relationships.
As their confidence and experience grew, they took on increasing levels of responsibility, eventually managing their own supervised caseloads and gaining valuable frontline experience that will support their future careers.
Sophie said, “The year with SWA has been really, really good and I did a lot more than I thought I would do. It was beneficial to have my own case load and be working to help people change; it was very rewarding to reach the point with people where they reflect on their actions and realise they wanted to change their behaviour. I feel like I’ve made a difference and helped people and working on Open2Change has confirmed that this is what I want to do. Domestic abuse is still so prevalent but the world needs to know that there’s support out there.”
The placements also supported the expansion of Open2Change beyond Swindon. Nethmi worked alongside a Behaviour Change Worker delivering the programme in Bath as part of SWA’s pilot initiative in the city.
With the first placement year now complete, SWA has welcomed its next University of Bath trainee, Clara Pieltain, who will join the programme for 2026/27.
“I have a real interest in women’s safety and violence against women and girls,” explained Clara. “And so I’m hoping to learn a lot over the next year and get hands-on experience understanding the reasons why people harm and their experiences and internal processing. After graduation I’d really like to work in areas like expert testimony and really work towards change and so I think working with SWA and Open2Change this year will help me develop a really good base and the skills I need.”
Kate Rowland, CEO of SWA, said, “Our Open2Change behaviour change programme is a crucial tool in breaking the cycle of abuse and changing attitudes. Our experienced Behaviour Change team have worked closely with Sophie and Nethmi over the last year to ensure they develop the skills and approaches needed to be able to give them a rewarding and useful placement, whilst supervising them to ensure they uphold the quality and professionalism that we would expect of any member of staff. Sophie and Nethmi have been such an integral part of the team and we have been incredibly impressed with their skill and professionalism. We’re confident Clara will be just as instrumental in changing lives for the better too.
“By partnering with the University of Bath to host these placements, we not only help to train the next generation of experts who can help end domestic abuse, but through working with a number of universities in the region, we also benefit from being able to access the latest research and approaches to ensure our Open2Change programme is as effective as possible.”
If you need advice for yourself or a friend relating to domestic abuse, call Swindon’s domestic abuse helpline on 01793 610610.
To find out more about Open2Change and SWA, visit www.societywithoutabuse.org.uk.
