I feel a little too much in the spotlight, if I’m honest. But I also know we need to seize this moment — for Own My Life, for the women the course reaches, and for everyone who is part of this sisterhood.

Trustee & Clinical Psychologist Jan is one of our trustees and a clinical psychologist, which means she spends a lot of time thinking deeply about how the world impacts women’s wellbeing — and how we can do better. She’s also someone who has strong thoughts about pineapple on pizza and understands that Annie Lennox knows her way around an iconic floor filler. And the best advice she carries with her? “Own your authority.” We're so pleased to be sharing more from the actual re

We have some exciting news! You can get our Own My Life Podcast closer to a winning a British Podcast Award! The Listeners' Choice Award is voted for by the public and we'd love your support. Since launching, our podcast has reached more than 4,000 listeners, and we've heard from women who have told us that listening has been genuinely life-changing. Through honest, courageous conversations, Jade, Monty, Clara, Lorna, Tara, Naomi and Helen share their experiences of surviving

Our July training participants! Last week was another beautiful training week! Look at these magnificent participant comments! The best training I have ever done!🥇 I like the language used by Own My Life and the emphasis on a woman’s own agency.✊🏾 Nothing feels random - everything has a purpose, and that's what makes Own My Life so powerful.💥 Amazing - reinforced some of my perspectives and opinions and changed some. Refreshing to have something so modern.🤯 I was engaged

Read my first post introducing this guide HERE. Introduction The European Conference on Domestic Violence (their website is HERE takes place in a different European city every two years. An academic institution within that country commits to be the on-the-ground partner for the event; with their staff and students forming the organising committee with support from the international organising group. The next ECDV is in Dublin on 5th – 8th September 2027. The keynote pre

ECDV is the European Conference on Domestic Violence. Founded in 2015 by European-based academics and activists, it’s a four-day conference that happens every other year. It’s attended by around 1000 people, with hundreds of presentations across the conference. Many of the participants are from Europe, but lots attend from elsewhere in the world. The next one is in Dublin on 5th – 8th September 2027. The conference seeks to bridge gaps between academia and practice. Most

Look at these two brilliant Inspired training cohorts! We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the first-ever facilitator training for Inspired to...Own My Life, our new course created especially for girls and young women aged 14–25. Building on the life-changing principles of Own My Life, this new programme has been developed to support both girls and young women who have been subjected to abuse and those who have not. By reaching young people earlier, Insp

We're delighted to share that our CEO, Natalie Collins, is featured in this week's Church Times in an in-depth profile exploring her work, faith, and long-standing commitment to making women's lives better. The article reflects on Natalie's journey as a Christian feminist, her advocacy for those subejcted to abuse, and her passion for equipping women to recognise abuse, reclaim their lives, and create lasting change. It also highlights the importance of challenging harmful at

Natalie reflects on two events that bring hope and celebration.

Natalie celebrates Marta García Aliaga's work on Lover Liar Predator.

There are moments when someone receives an award and everyone who knows them simply nods and says, "Of course." That was absolutely our reaction when Victoria Mason was named Volunteer of the Year at TSB's inaugural Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Awards. We are absolutely thrilled for Victoria and couldn't think of a more deserving recipient of this recognition. Behind every Own My Life course, every partnership, every conversation that helps a woman better un

We had a wonderful June facilitator training with brilliant women from across the UK, Ireland and the Isle of Man! This is what trainees told us about Own My Life and our training: "Absolutely amazing, life changing and so positive."🤩 "Own My Life like no other training you’ve been on."❤️‍🔥 "Absolutely brilliant - like opening a box of puppies."🐶 "Most engaging training I have attended in my working life."🥇 "Own My Life is a precious gift to others, to see the gif

May's training participants What a joyous May training! It was our FIRST training with BSL interpretation for brilliant Deborah at Deafinitley Women. Participants said about the training and Own My Life: Absolutely brilliant from start to finish.💥 This was the best zoom training I have attended.💻 It's transformed my outlook for the better in so many ways.🤯 Best course I have done & a course that can empower women.🏆 Relevant, fun, appropriate and versatile for a range of p

In her first blog post, Partnership Development Volunteer Victoria shares how a chance encounters can lead to new opportunities.

We're really excited that Kirsty Bentley is joining us, alongside Louise Bryant, as Co-Trainer for our training events. Kirsty reflects on joining the Own My Life team. Kirsty Bentley Stepping into the role of co-trainer for the Own My Life facilitator course still feels a bit surreal but in the best possible way. I keep bouncing between excitement, gratitude, and that little flutter in my stomach that says this really matters and I really want to do it well. Being trusted w

Our CEO, Natalie Collins, reflects on last week’s roundtable that we organised to consider how best to support women in the workplace who have or are being subjected to abuse by a partner. Victoria opening the roundtable. Look at that room! Light streamed through the roof as we gathered in beautiful London Scottish House on the last day in April. A building made before London square footage was too valuable to allow for any efficiency could be allowed. An expansive space,

Our CEO Natalie Collins reflects on attending the Be Bold Now conference in London last week. Natalie speaking at Be Bold Now I generally avoid women’s events. I know that’s an odd thing to say given that I’ve dedicated my life to making women’s lives better. However, women’s events have this tendency to reduce women to a particular notion of femininity; beauty products and Prosecco abound, and women’s roles as intimate partners and mothers may feature in ways that suggest

Speakers at our Survival, Not Disorder event This week Own My Life was delighted to host Survival, Not Disorder: Applying The Power Threat Meaning Framework To Women’s Survival Of Men’s Domestic Abuse. The Power Threat Meaning Framework is an incredible resource developed by the British Psychological Society as a response to the ways human distress is being severely pathologised across the UK (and the West more generally). The process was led by the Framework’s Lead Co-auth

Our lovely April training participants! Last week was our April Facilitator Training and what a marvellous week we had! Don't just take our word for it though, here's what our training participants said: "It is something every woman should do in their life!!" 🚺 "What a treasure! I know it will change so many lives." ❤️‍🔥 "I have never been this much awake on a zoom training. Brilliant." 💥 "I personally think this course should be mandatory for everyone in domestic abuse se

Our Safer City and Own My Life are proud to announce their new partnership, joining a growing network of organisations committed to ensuring that women and girls across the City of London are safe from violence and are supported, and empowered. This milestone builds on Own My Life’s impactful work with the Metropolitan Police, where female officers, staff, and volunteers have accessed Own My Life courses after being subjected to abuse by a partner. Through this collaboration,