Gillian welcomes Debbie Cannon to the Transvox podcast, discussing her background as a Geordie who moved around the UK, served in the Army, worked 21 years in insurance, won “Insurance Leader of the Year” in 2017, and later moved into community and charity work.
Debbie leads Trans Without Abuse, a by-and-for domestic abuse support service for trans and non-binary adults across Cheshire under Cheshire Without Abuse, launched in 2023 after research found marginalised groups didn’t engage because services didn’t feel “for them.”
She explains domestic abuse beyond physical violence, including coercive control and identity-based abuse such as deadnaming, restricting gender expression, isolating from affirming spaces, and threats of outing.
Debbie outlines how the service provides safety planning, holistic support, and options including family-wide interventions, and she created “Live Free,” a free online recovery program through a trans and non-binary lens, accessible via transwithoutabuse.org.uk.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:36 Ukulele Club Festival
02:47 Life Story and Transition
05:48 Trans Inclusion Across Regions
10:09 Breaking the Trans Bubble
13:01 Trans Without Abuse Origins
15:03 What Domestic Abuse Is
16:18 Identity Based Abuse
26:31 Support and Safety Planning
30:30 Stats and Live Free Program
32:48 How to Get Help
33:27 Closing Thanks
You can contact us at gillian@transvox.co.uk and find out more at transvox.co.uk