Inside the Fight Against Domestic Abuse: A CEO’s Strategic Vision for Change
In this exclusive thought leadership interview, we sit down with the CEO of Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA), Cherryl Henry-Leach, to explore the organisation’s strategic vision for combating domestic abuse and creating lasting societal change. With a career deeply rooted in tackling gendered violence and advocating for systemic reform, Cherryl shares powerful insights on leadership, the importance of survivor-centred approaches, and the urgent need for a whole-systems response to domestic abuse. This conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, triumphs, and bold steps required to reshape the future of domestic abuse services and pave the way for a world free from violence.
My journey into women’s empowerment and the gender equality movement has been shaped by deeply personal and professional experiences over the years.
My early interest in these issues emerged during my academic studies, and noting the disproportionate challenges faced by women in the justice system – a system that was designed by men. This realisation sparked my commitment to understanding and addressing gender inequality and systemic failures. At university, I had the opportunity to refine this this understanding, exploring further how structural inequalities affect women and children.
As a Probation Officer, I also noted that many women were criminalised against a backdrop of domestic abuse and multiple disadvantages and or oppressions, that were complex. Later, as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) in the early days of these roles coming into being, I worked directly with survivors of abuse. This experience deepened my empathy and strengthened my determination to challenge harmful narratives—particularly the notion of blaming women for not leaving abusive situations.
My transition into strategic roles began in Rotherham, where I engaged in national initiatives created by the Domestic Abuse Victims Act of 2004. These formative years were immensely rewarding but also challenging of embedding new statutory guidance into practice. I found purpose in working with partners to develop victim-centred systemic change, informed by the voices of women who bravely shared their experiences so we had clear understanding on how we could strengthen coordinated responses to abuse, including Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) and fostering a whole-family approach to domestic abuse by involving children’s services.
One of the most rewarding chapters of my career was leading the Growing Futures initiative in Doncaster funded by the DfE and delivered by the Doncaster Children’s Trust. This nationally acclaimed programme reconfigured services for families affected by domestic abuse, domestic abuse best practice in responses from children’s social care. It was transformative, ensuring children’s voices were prioritised and social workers were equipped to handle complex cases where domestic abuse was a feature.
Creating psychologically safe workplaces is vital. Many professionals, including myself, have lived experiences of abuse, which creates a complex relationship with the work we do. Trauma-informed practice must extend to those supporting survivors, fostering reflection on practice to build resilience and sustainability in the workforce.
Now, as I celebrate my first anniversary as the CEO of Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (STADA), I am honoured to be the custodian of and to lead an organisation at the forefront of transforming domestic abuse prevention and response. Feminist principles, collaboration, and community-based solutions guide my work. I firmly believe that tackling domestic abuse and gender inequality requires a coordinated multi-agency, whole-community approach that is meaningfully intersectional and values the very rich diversity within our sector.
My inspiration comes from the resilience of survivors, the dedication of professionals across the sector, some of whom are my staff team, and the transformative power of collaboration. It’s a privilege to contribute to this journey, whilst paying homage to the very strong women who went before me – without their experiences i could not do what I do. I remain unwavering in my commitment to systemic reforms that prioritise survivors’ voices and promote equality at every level.
Leadership Reflections: Compassion, Accountability, and Survivor-Centred Change
My leadership ethos is simple: if I wouldn’t do it myself, I wouldn’t ask my team to do it.
Leadership is a continuous journey of growth, reflection, and impact. Balancing passion with process is a delicate but necessary skill. Early in my career, a director told me to “temper my passion”. This feedback was not delivered in trauma-informed manner but, reflecting on this enabled me to value the importance of processes. While difficult to hear, perhaps because of how it was delivered, it taught me to balance my passion with structured, compassionate leadership, a model I encourage.
Reflection on practice drives growth should not hinder action and fosters a culture where colleagues feel safe to reflect on their practices without fear, ensuring even difficult conversations are led with respect. Joining STADA was a defining moment for me—a vocational role where ambition met purpose. A year in, I am convinced that balancing policy adherence with empathy is key to supporting both survivors and staff.
Survivors’ voices must guide our actions. They are the experts of their experiences, and their insights reveal what works and what fails. I recall a survivor overwhelmed with anger, which alienated her from services. By listening to her frustrations, which stemmed from her no being listened too, we rebuilt trust and refined our approach. This reinforced my belief that services must meet survivors where they are—not where we think they should be and requires us to sometimes address basic needs to enable mind space that can lead to action.
Accountability is equally vital. As a society, we must send a clear message to perpetrators: their behaviour will not be tolerated, has no place in our communities, and there are consequences for the harm they cause. Beyond systemic reform, we must challenge societal norms that perpetuate violence and inequality. Victims should not have to uproot their lives to be safe, while abusers remain in their homes. In a digital age, delays in processes like non-molestation orders reaching the Police are inexcusable. We should be shifting the focus for the abuse from the victim to the abuser and asking why doesn’t he stop, instead of why doesn’t she leave?
Communities can drive change - initiatives such as posters in hair salons or campaigns in football stadiums can spark significant change. Ultimately, my vision is a world where services like STADA are no longer needed. Until then, I am committed to leading with compassion, empowering my team, and centring survivors in all we do. If our services wouldn’t suffice for our own daughters, mothers, nieces, sisters or friends, they’re not good enough for anyone.
The Future of Addressing Gendered Abuse and Inequality
The future I envision is one where domestic abuse services are not needed because abuse in all its forms no longer exists. Achieving this requires a seismic shift in how we view and respond to gendered abuse.
Gendered abuse is far-reaching, encompassing emotional manipulation, coercive control, economic abuse, sexual violence, and cultural pressures that strip individuals of their individuality and autonomy. Economic abuse, in particular, often goes unnoticed but severely limits survivors’ ability to escape abusive situations.
Progress demands a whole-systems approach. Abuse is not a “private issue” but a societal one, requiring collaboration across health, education, law enforcement, housing, and community organisations. Collaboration must be paired with training for professionals so they can foster accountability by confronting abuse directly and appropriately. We must also dismantle societal norms that perpetuate inequality. Historically, women have borne the burden of resilience while perpetrators evade responsibility. True progress means shifting this dynamic and addressing the root causes of abuse.
Men have a critical role to play in dismantling harmful behaviours and shaping positive social attitudes. Communities also hold the power to transform lives by driving change so that domestic abuse no longer remains perceived as a private matter.
Progress will be slow until all sectors see tackling abuse as their core responsibility. But change is possible when we hold ourselves accountable, uplift survivors, and refuse to accept anything less than a world of equality and safety.
A Message to the Government: A Call for a Holistic and Bold Approach to End Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is a societal crisis that demands urgent, bold, and systemic action. One year into my leadership at STADA, I am more determined than ever to advocate for meaningful change.
First, we need to stop framing domestic abuse as a criminal justice issue. Yes, the justice system plays a critical role, but it is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Domestic abuse touches every corner of society— including but not limited to family courts, debt recovery systems, social care, housing, and workplaces. These systems are too often siloed, fragmented, and under-resourced. A truly coordinated response must bring every touchpoint together and ensure survivors are supported holistically.
Second, the government’s ambition to end domestic abuse within a generation is commendable, but ambition without strategic investment risks being rhetoric. This issue cannot remain on the periphery of social policy. It must be embedded across all departments, all services, and all sectors, with the funding to match. We need to create a whole-systems approach where every agency sees tackling domestic abuse as its responsibility, not just a specialist service's burden. And it needs investment – it's about the 3 a.m. crisis call – is there appropriate support for any survivor to access at the point in time they need it?
We must also reimagine how we hold perpetrators accountable, even those who are not convicted. It is unacceptable that known abusers can navigate society without consequence while victims suffer in silence.