1. To what extent is the approach to tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence is improving as a result of the obligations of the Act.

New Pathways is not able to identify a significant improvement to the approach to tackling violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence in recent months and would be reluctant to conclude that any improvement that has been observed is the result of the obligations of the Act. This is not to say that New Pathways does not feel that the obligations of the Act could well lead to a significant improvement but we feel that it would be premature to make an assessment of this nature at this time.

2. What are the most effective methods of capturing the views and experiences of survivors? Are arrangements in place to capture these experiences, and to what extent is the information being used to help inform the implementation of the Act’s provisions.

New Pathways feels that it is important to involve survivors in the development of specialist services wherever practical and possible. New Pathways acknowledges that a consideration of survivors’ views and experiences is crucial and may well be the best possible way to inform the implementation of the Act’s provisions. New Pathways currently facilitates the sharing of survivors’ views in a number of ways including the use of evaluation and feedback forms, on-line surveys and regular forums. It is only with engagement with our own client group that we can be sure that we are continually developing and enhancing the most appropriate range of specialist client services. However, New Pathways does not feel it would be appropriate, at this stage, to ask survivors about specific elements of the implementation of the Act’s provisions. It is our understanding that most clients would currently be unaware of the specific legislation and intentions of the Act.

3. Are survivors of abuse beginning to experience better responses from public authorities as a result of the Act, particularly those needing specialist services.

New Pathways feels that it would be premature to assess whether survivors of abuse are beginning to experience better responses from public authorities as a result of the Act. New Pathways does not feel that it would be appropriate to question survivors directly about any changes that have resulted from the Act at this stage.

4. Does the National Advisor have sufficient power and independence from Welsh Government to ensure the implementation of the Act.

New Pathways does not feel that the National Advisor currently has sufficient power and independence from Welsh Government to ensure the implementation of the Act. New Pathways feels that it is too early to assess the impact of the National Adviser to date. However, New Pathways does feel that it is crucial for the National Adviser to have sufficient power and independence from Welsh Government in order to ensure the successful implementation of the Act going forward.

5. To what extent is the Good Practice Guide to Healthy Relationships successfully influencing the development of a whole school approach to challenging VAWDASV.

New Pathways does not feel equipped to respond fully or meaningfully to this question at this time. New Pathways feels that it would be difficult to measure the extent to which the Good Practice Guide to Healthy Relationships has successfully influenced the development of a whole school approach to challenging VAWDASV. While it is clear that there is now an imperative for all schools to challenge VAWDASV and to actively promote healthy relationships it is not clear whether all schools have responded with the same level of enthusiasm and whether a truly consistent and cohesive whole school approach now truly exists. While this situation may become clearer in time it is unlikely that New Pathways, or other similar organisations, will be able to comment on this meaningfully in the future without access to data which contrasts the impact of the Good Practice Guide across different schools and different areas.