Sarah Taylor

Sarah Taylor is a passionate advocate and campaigner dedicated to protecting victims of domestic abuse, coercive control and post-separation abuse.

Sarah aims to prevent victims from being re-traumatised in the family court system.

She has endured personal lived experiences of post-separation abuse and has empowered herself from this to drive systemic change and raise awareness about this critical issue.

‍

Professional Background and Advocacy:

‍

Sarah was training to be a solicitor before the abuse started back in the early 2000’s, and also studied and researched health sciences. Since then, she decided to train

as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) after many years of navigating coercive control and post-separation abuse. This training has equipped her with the

skills and knowledge to support other victims, ensuring they do not have to endure the same hardships. The primary goal of Sarah’s work is to create a system where

vulnerable victims and their children are protected from having to negotiate with perpetrators and are shielded from further abuse through the family court system.

‍

Key Areas of Focus:

Raising Awareness: Educating the public, judiciary, local authorities, and police about post-separation abuse, control, and coercion. Highlighting that these

behaviours are crimes under the Serious Crime Act 2015. Campaigning for Change: Advocating for victims, ensuring family courts, related agencies and police recognise and address post-separation abuse, ensuring victims are protected and not re-traumatise by the system.

‍

Support: Working towards a supportive system where victims and their children are always protected and supported together, preventing the misuse of legal systems by

abusers.

‍

Voluntary Work and Impact

Sarah works voluntarily with the Mid and West Wales Survivor Advisory Panel, leveraging lived experiences to influence policy and create change. This includes:

Constructing papers and presenting them to strategic boards to drive systemic change.

‍

Campaigning:

Using the theme of post-separation abuse for campaigns. Sarah recently appeared on BBC question time, discussing family court with electoral candidates prior to the general election and is working with MP Alex Davies-Jones to address the key changes needed within family court.

‍

Training and Awareness: Speaking to judiciary, CAFCASS, local authorities, and police to raise awareness and improve their understanding of domestic abuse

dynamics.

‍

Public Speaking: Engaging with local criminal justice boards and other agencies in Wales to develop relationships and form partnerships aimed at improving victim

support.

‍

Ambassador Role:

Sarah is also a proud ambassador of CALAN DVS, a role that involves collaboration in supporting survivors and advocating for systemic changes to protect and empower

victims of domestic abuse.

‍

Vision for the Future:

Sarah envisions a future where no vulnerable victims of domestic abuse and their children are forced to endure the trauma of family court proceedings. Instead, they

are always supported and protected by a system designed to safeguard their well-being and prevent abusers from exploiting legal processes to perpetuate control and

harm.

‍