Warwick Law School News

For the first time, charity Victim Support is collaborating with the University of Warwick, thanks to a programme of relationship-building events devised and led by a PhD researcher.

PGR Faye Claridge wanted perspectives from victims to be included in her research on exhibiting artworks made in prison and realised a working relationship with an organisation supporting victims of crime could benefit many more projects than just her own. Securing agreement from Victim Support and a small grant from the Warwick Institute of Engagement, Faye devised a series of events that have already resulted in opportunities to further research across multiple university departments.

The events were co-hosted by the School of Law’s Criminal Justice Centre and the Department of Sociology’s Violence and Social Justice Cluster and started with a victim-perspective awareness workshop in March 2026. This used creative methods and presentations to find common themes, bringing together undergraduates, postgraduates and staff across a number of disciplines, including Law, Creative Writing, Global Sustainable Development and Sociology.

A month later, a lively roundtable event was held to pull out key themes, to identify areas of potential future research and to plan a visit to Victim Support’s base in the Warwickshire Justice Centre.

The visit, in May, enabled attendees to learn more about Victim Support and the Witness Service. They also watched trial proceedings and were very fortunate to be invited to meet a judge, defending barrister and court clerks for a discussion on victim experiences, legal guidelines and potential areas for research and policy recommendations. The visit concluded with an in-depth dialogue with a policy researcher for the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office and Youth Services regional manager.

The shared experiences and discussions were invaluable, as one attendee commented:

“These events have been wonderful and have shown the difference a generous and creative approach can make to effective relationship-building and collaboration.”

As a result of the events series, two proposals for collaborative work with Victim Support are already underway and it is hoped further awareness and inclusion of victim perspectives in research will follow.