Some of the most powerful work happens when the right people find each other. The IWC digital community exists not just as a network, but as a space where expertise, experience, and shared values can meet, and where connections made online become collaborations that create real change.

The members featured here came together through IWC and went on to do work that none of them would have done alone. Their stories are shared to show you what becomes possible when you look beyond your immediate circle and trust that the community around you holds knowledge, perspective, and courage worth seeking out.

If you have been wondering whether to reach out to a fellow member, to propose a project, or simply to begin a conversation, let this be your prompt.

CASE STUDY: The CPS Pre-Trial Therapy Guidelines

Dorothy Hodgkinson, Tayba Azim, and Erene Hadjiioannou

When Dorothy Hodgkinson, Tayba Azim, and Erene Hadjiioannou were brought together through Inspiring Women Changemakers, the task was clear: to form a steering group and contribute a specialist response to the Crown Prosecution Service consultation on pre-trial therapy guidelines that had, for two decades, placed survivors of sexual and domestic violence in an impossible position.  The guidelines, in place since 2001, contained a clause that prevented survivors of crime from speaking openly about their experiences in therapy if they had an active report, investigation, or trial running concurrently.

What none of them could have fully anticipated was what the collaboration would become. The three brought distinctly different expertise. Dorothy draws on over a decade as an Integrative Counsellor and Independent Advocate with direct experience of how survivors’ histories are used and misused within legal proceedings. Erene is an Integrative Psychotherapist, author, and activist with specialist knowledge in supporting survivors of sexual violence of any gender. Tayba is an Integrative Psychotherapist and Mizan Practitioner, whose expertise in trauma and deep knowledge of women’s rights in Islam, including the separation of cultural and spiritual abuse from Quranic teaching, ensured the group could speak to survivors the guidelines had never considered.

Together, they liaised with legal professionals such as Stephen Littlewood of KBW Chambers (an integral member of the team), fellow therapists, and survivors before submitting their response to the CPS public consultation in November 2020. Their submission was precise about what the guidelines failed to do: they did not account for the diversity of who survivors are, meaning the criminal justice system would continue to be predominantly accessible to white, cisgender, secular, non-disabled, and heterosexual survivors.

They called for change within both the criminal justice and mental health systems, and between them. The formal response was submitted to the CPS public consultation in October 2020, along with being directly sent to senior figures in the CPS.

In May 2022, the CPS issued new pre-trial therapy guidance to replace their earlier framework. The clause preventing survivors from speaking about their experiences in therapy was removed, and the updated guidance stated explicitly that there are no circumstances in which access to therapy should be delayed. It was meaningful progress.

However, there are still gaps. Therapy notes can still be requested or ordered by the court. In some circumstances, the notes can be released from the confidential therapeutic space to be used as evidence in criminal proceedings. Therapists remain at risk of being called as a ‘third party witness’ in court, including where a first disclosure was made in a therapeutic context.

As for the collaboration itself, its significance has extended well beyond the consultation. What started as a shared mission has resulted in a deep friendship.

Tayba reflects:

“What began as a task has become a circle of friendship and collective action. This partnership has also expanded my own path, giving me the confidence to speak at conferences and to train other organisations.”

Dorothy adds:

“I have valued being able to address complex and heartrending issues within the safety of a collaboration that has become close, supportive friendship. Bearing witness to the very varied experiences we each brought to this work was emotionally challenging but so worthwhile, enabling us to present a detailed, coherent case for change.”

And in Erene’s words:

“Collaboration is proof that the right people are out there, you just need to be brave and go looking for them. I’ve valued the experience of holding each other up when pushing for change is intimidating, along with sharing expertise.”

Dorothy Hodgkinson of Finding Perspectives works as a person-centred, integrative counsellor, advocate, consultant and trainer to voluntary sector organisations, and mentor.

Tayba Azim of Nurturing Heart and Womb is a BACP‑registered psychotherapist, Mizan Practitioner, clinical supervisor and facilitator who blends relational, somatic and faith‑attuned approaches to support embodied healing.

Erene Hadjiioannou of Therapy Leeds is a psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer, author, and (occasional) activist.