Project Director: Cathy Harris
Project Duration: 2020-2022

This project comprised a process and outcomes evaluation of Ask and Act, a Welsh Government-commissioned programme of training being delivered across Wales by Welsh Women's Aid. The training aims to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge to identify potential victims of domestic violence and provide appropriate support through referrals and interventions. Ask and Act is a key part of Welsh Government's commitment, in their National Strategy on Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence, to train relevant professionals to provide effective, timely and appropriate responses to victims and survivors.

The evaluation explored the effectiveness of the implementation of Ask and Act training to date and assessed how successful it was in meeting the aims of Ask and Act. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods were used to address the evaluation aims and comprised both secondary data analysis and primary data collection. The evaluation utilised a staged approach with earlier research activities informing subsequent phases of the evaluation. For example, the scoping phase involved interviews with key stakeholders involved in the development and delivery of Ask and Act. These informed the focus of survey questions and interview topic guides, as well as the sampling strategy for later evaluation activities with individuals delivering the training locally.

The evaluation found that Ask and Act is seen as an important and valuable programme which is having an impact across Wales for those participating, both individually and at an organisational / sector level. There is wide recognition of the need for Ask and Act and broad support for the aims of the programme. The Train the Trainer model is felt to be the most appropriate method for delivering and disseminating the training.

The evaluation outlined a number of recommendations to be addressed to ensure the sustainability and ongoing positive impact of Ask and Act going forward. These related to the delivery and rollout of the programme, course content and training materials, and ongoing research and evaluation. The recommendations were co-produced with Welsh Government to ensure they were meaningful and practical, and they are being incorporated within the new contract and updated guidance for Ask and Act.