Some years ago, as a result of domestic violence, I came into contact with several services and agencies. My experience led me to ask questions about how services were run and if they were helping or hindering the recovery of the women using them. In addition, I was interested in why some women were labelled as hard to reach, difficult to engage with, or as not asking for help, and why certain agencies were unable to serve them.

In 2018, I travelled to the USA to gain insight into how Black communities deal with the overlapping issues of mental health, substance misuse, and domestic violence. The research included interviews with specialist women's services, delivering workshops, touring community facilities, and work placements.

I have come to understand how entrenched racial inequalities, exclusion, and systemic neglect hinder a Black community's capacity to recover, and how Black communities can use their own solutions to drive and determine their recovery.

As a result of the Fellowship, I am involved in the development of several programmes that will empower women and increase collaboration between mental health, addiction, and domestic violence services.