Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)

We'd like to say thank you to all of our guests who joined us and who share our vision.

Read more about the progress already made in our good practice guide - and how you can be part of the solution: survivingeconomicabuse.org/wp-content/u...

The financial services sector plays a uniquely powerful role in stopping economic abuse. Every account, loan, and policy can be used either to facilitate harm or to enable safety and freedom.

That is why coming together yesterday felt like a significant moment in our mission to stop economic abuse.

And our CEO, Sam Smethers, left us with this message:

"Too many lives are at stake, and looking at how far we've come already, I know if we work together, we can do it. When every system plays its part, victim-survivors don't just survive - they recover, rebuild, and thrive."

Natalie, a survivor and Surviving Economic Abuse Ambassador, joined us to share her story.

She reinforced how coercive and controlling behaviour sits at the heart of domestic abuse. But financial services can truly be part of a system that saves lives.

Sarah Pritchard, Deputy CEO at the Financial Conduct Authority, cautioned that there is no quick fix but echoed how vital collaboration in the sector will be and that "everyone in the room today can make change happen."

Eric Leenders, Managing Director of Personal Finance, UK Finance, reiterated that, although celebration is important, we need to go further.

"Supporting victim-survivors to establish financial independence is our North Star. It's all we're seeking to achieve. And there is more to be done."

At the launch of our financial services good practice guide yesterday, the message was clear: we've made incredible progress but there's more work to do.

Jose Carvalho, Head of Wealth & Personal Banking at HSBC, reiterated: "Collaboration is vital. We must work together to create a better system."

Today, we’re joined by senior leaders from banks, building societies, industry bodies and parliamentarians at London Guildhall to launch our guide.

We will celebrate the progress already made and explore how we can work together to make this good practice the industry standard.

Introducing our new good practice guide for financial services - a roadmap to help the industry make good practice consistent across the sector.

Because when firms get it right, the impact is not just life-changing but lifesaving. Read the guide: survivingeconomicabuse.org/wp-content/u...

Debt trap nation

Thank you @kbrickell.bsky.social and Mel Nowicki for your support and for amplifying this injustice.

Find out more ➡️ debt-trap-nation.org

#DebtTrapNation

That’s why we’re calling for all local authorities and social housing providers to urgently develop clear policies and practices for disregarding and writing off debts caused by domestic, including economic, abuse.

These harmful social housing policies compound and enable abuse, forcing victim-survivors into homelessness and preventing them from rebuilding their lives.

Victim-survivors are prevented from accessing stable housing because of policies which exclude them from social housing allocations due to rent arrear debts. Debts which are a direct consequence of domestic, including economic, abuse.

#DebtTrapNation by @kbrickell.bsky.social and Mel Nowicki is an important new book which sheds light on how housing policies are failing domestic abuse victim-survivors ⬇️

Family courts failing victim-survivors and their children – SEA responds to new report A new report from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, ‘Everyday business – Addressing domestic abuse and continuing harm through a family court review and reporting mechanism’, has revealed that domestic...

The government must urgently reform family courts and put coercive control, including economic abuse, at the heart of any changes.

Read our response ➡️ survivingeconomicabuse.org/news/family-...

cc. @commissionerda.bsky.social

A statement from Surviving Economic Abuse CEO, Sam Smethers, is overlaid on a purple background. It reads: "Abusers turn the family courts system into a playground for coercive control. We need nothing short of a transformation of our family courts."

A new report from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has revealed that domestic abuse is ‘everyday business’ for family courts.

Yet women and children are still being put at significant risk posed by domestic abusers.

⬇️

Today, our CEO Sam Smethers joins expert panellists to discuss the role of businesses in the government's mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

We'll explore the actions businesses can take to support survivors and stop economic abuse #LAB25

Yesterday, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury highlighted how important financial inclusion is for economic abuse victim-survivors, particularly those impacted by joint mortgage abuse.

Thank you for raising this important issue at #LAB25 @lucyrigby.bsky.social

It’s brilliant to join partners from across the violence against women and girls (VAWG) sector at #LAB25. We stand united in our calls on the Government to meet its promises to halve VAWG in a decade.

Logos of the organisations involved in the VAWG Takeover

Find out more bit.ly/3IkjnmN

Labour Party Conference schedule, 28-30 September 2025

Over a year ago the government was elected on a mission to halve VAWG, but it is yet to publish its strategy.

This is a vital opportunity to reset its approach. We call on government to listen to VAWG orgs, centre women and girls and ensure that VAWG is a political priority.

VAWG organisations call on government to meet its promises to halve violence against women

Following the #LabourPartyConference?

Keep an eye out for the #VAWGTakover to hear how government must centre women and girls in its plans.

The Labour Party Conference begins this Sunday (28th) and experts from the SEA team will be heading to Liverpool to speak at four key events.

Find us to hear practical and thought-provoking discussions on everything from post-separation abuse to urgently needed legal reforms.

The Government must fund specialist support, invest in prevention, and remove barriers, such as No Recourse to Public Funds, for migrant survivors to ensure all victim-survivors can reach safety.

We stand with others in the sector in condemning the weaponisation of violence against women and girls to push a clear anti-migrant agenda that distracts from the real causes of abuse.

Abusers come from every background.

From our work with victim-survivors, we know that the root causes of economic abuse are not a perpetrator’s immigration status, but men’s power and control and women’s economic inequality.

Grants, benefits and financial help If you have experienced economic abuse, there are organisations that may be able to provide financial support with day-to-day expenses.

Economic abuse can leave you struggling to afford essentials, especially if you have children to care for.  

However, support is out there.  

You can find information on grants, benefits and other financial support that may be available here ⬇️ 

Survivors’ forum An online survivors’ forum for peer support that is a safe and supportive space for women to share their experiences of economic abuse.

Do you need a safe space to talk about economic abuse? Our Survivors’ Forum provides a confidential platform for victim-survivors to talk through their experiences and access peer-to-peer support. You’re not alone.

Find out more ⬇️

How your employer can help If you are experiencing economic abuse or living with its effects, your workplace may be an important source of support.   

If you’re facing economic abuse, your employer may already have policies in place to support you.

You can find further information on the types of support employers can offer, along with tips and advice on disclosing abuse, here ⬇️

Follow SEA to:

❓Learn how to spot economic abuse
🗞️Get updates on laws & policies that impact survivors
📢Help break the silence around financial control.

Every follow helps us raise even more awareness of economic abuse.