Black and Minoritized Women’s Experiences of Specialist Domestic Violence Services in the United Kingdom (UK): A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review maps the existing available literature on Black and minoritized women’s experiences with specialist Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) services in the UK to summarize current understanding and identify knowledge gaps. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases and gray literature sources. All articles had to include Black and minoritized women’s experiences of DVA services. In total, 29 UK-based studies published between 2000 and 2024 were identified. Data were synthesized to identify key themes and gaps. Thematic analysis of the findings revealed three main themes: additional service needs, barriers to accessing support, and the pivotal role of “by and for” services. Our review concludes that “by and for” services—provided by and for minoritized women—which adopt an intersectional approach are crucial in addressing the unique needs of Black and minoritized “survivor–victims”, particularly in terms of language support, practical assistance, and community-related support. There is a need for more peer-reviewed literature to recognize the role of “by and for” services, using diverse methodologies to support Black and minoritized communities better.