Our Place – Safe Space The impact of domestic violence on children and young people

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Our Place Safe Space

The impact of domestic violence on children and young people

Improving Childrens Lives ConferenceQueens University Belfast20 22 February 2014

Sarah Mason and Sandra McNameeWomens Aid Federation Northern IrelandOur Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Domestic violence is impacting upon the safety and stability of hundreds of millions of children worldwide each year.

Our Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Our key message

Some of the biggest victims of domestic violence are the smallest.

UNICEF (2006) Behind Closed Doors, the Impact of Domestic Violence on Children.


What do we know from research?

As many as 275 million worldwide are exposed to violence in the home.

Up to 963,000 children across the UK exposed to domestic violence.

Approximately 32,000 children and young people living with domestic violence in Northern Ireland.Behind Closed Doors The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children UNICEF research (2006 ) NSPCC research (November 2011) estimated 33,000 babies under 1 in England are living with a parent who reports domestic abuse. Cuthbert, C et al (2011) All Babies Count. NSPCC


What about Northern Ireland?

PSNI statistics 2012-2013

27,190 incidents with a domestic motivation reported.PSNI responded to a domestic incident every 19 minutes every day.29% of all murders had a domestic motivation.Almost 2.5 times as many domestic related crimes as drug offences. More than 5 times as many domestic related crimes as car thefts.Statistics for MARACs (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) January 2010 - November2013, 6049 high risk cases of domestic violence involving 8162 children discussed. Police Recorded Crime in Northern Ireland: Monthly Update to 31 March 2012. Published, May 2012. PSNI Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency


Total number of calls managed between April 2012 - March 201347,597 (8.5 % increase)


Children experience domestic violence with all their senses.

They see it, hear it, feel it fear it.



Effects of domestic violence on children and young peopleHow does domestic violence impact upon children and young people?Our Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

What do children and young people tell us?

I didnt feel safe. I was scared at home and was constantly getting up to make sure the doors were locked at night. I was always worried about my mams safety.

I blamed myself for what was going on and always felt I was going to be in trouble.

I couldnt control my anger, I couldnt communicate with people properly or get my opinion across without getting annoyed and mad. I didnt feel happy and didnt trust anyone.


Every child has the right to grow up safe from harm and should feel that those they love are also protected. Violence in the home shatters a childs basic right to feel safe and secure in the world.Behind Closed Doors The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children UNICEF research

Womens Aid believes domestic violence is a violation of childrens rights.Our Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Meeting the needs of children and young people has always been a priority in Womens Aid.



Getting it Right! Learning from the experts

To have a safe space thats our placeTo be happy To have adults we can trustTo be clearer about abuseTo have information more ready for usFor stigma to be removed.


Our vision for children and young people

Our Place-Safe Space-a future where all children and young people are safe and protected from domestic and sexual violence; where they have self-belief, respect for themselves and others and where their fundamental human rights are met.


Our model for working with children and young peopleOur Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Prevention work in schools

Helping Hands for Children (primary)

Heading for Healthy Relationships H4HR (post primary)


Developing Social Guardians to deliver Helping HandsWe all have the right to feel safe all of the timeOthers have the right to feel safe with usThere is nothing so awful or so small that we cant talk about it with someonePlan to Protect Model, Developing Social Guardians to Deliver Helping Hands trainingOur Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Capacity building with teachers

Developing Social Guardians to deliver Helping HandsIn 2012 2013120 schools involved168 teachers trainedTo date:410 schools involved614 teachers trained


I will deliver PDMU with more knowledge, insight and sensitivity, aiming to strongly deliver the message of the right to feel safe and the importance of talking to someone.It was very important for teachers to learn about the types of negative experiences that children are subjected to at home and how this can impact upon their behaviour and learning at school.Very easy to implement and integrate into the curriculum. A good resource for both pupils and teachers. Very enthusiastically and professionally delivered.One of the best programmes I have been involved with.Feedback from teachers


Working with mothers

Dr. Liz Kelly points out "One simple and yet key principle from which we can begin is that woman protection is frequently the most effective form of child protection".

Holder, R et al (1994) Suffering in Silence? Children and Young People who witness Domestic ViolenceOur Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

You and Me, Mum

Overall aim

To provide a ten week self help programme, which will empower, support and develop further understanding of role as mothers, in addressing the needs of children and young people who have lived with domestic violence.


Supporting mothers You and Me, Mum

Case study

Kellys story


How do we measure outcomes for children and young people?

Based upon high level outcomes Suite of key performance indicators Operates at local and regional levelsQuantitative and qualitative data Utilises creative qualitative evaluation toolsOur Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Measuring outcomes (2012-2013)

546 children accommodated in refuge.4,469 children indirectly supported through Floating Support service.14 babies were born to women in refuge.1,517 one to one support sessions held with children and young people in refuge.Since 1999, Womens Aid across Northern Ireland has provided refuge to 14,902 children and young peopleSince 2008, 515 mothers and 884 children supported through You & Me, Mum


In 2012- 2013 Womens Aid supported 5,767 children and young peopleOur Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

Our most important measurement tool


I know to tell someone about bad secretsI will feel lost without them

To be able to tell my mum how Im feelingTo know my oh oh! SignsIt made me happyIt was the best everI feel safe and happy

Children 5 10

If I could sum up in one sentence how Womens Aid has helped me it would be


That it helped me to feel better and safer

I am happier now

I am happier and not getting into trouble at schoolI know what to do when I am scaredIt helped my moods and behaviourI learned how to have respectBecoming valued by myselfYoung people 11 - 18

If I could sum up in one sentence how Womens Aid has helped me it would be


After getting support I feel safe and more confident to go up the town. I am not as worried about mams safety as I was. Im not feeling as angry as I was. I am now aware of the danger signs and what to do in a difficult situation.

I am now happy to talk about what happened, even though I do not like what happened. I am now able to talk to my friends and my support worker about life.


Things that could have been betterMore talking and less filling stuff in!More trips!More parties!A longer programme (I didnt want it to end). Our Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

The importance of supporting mothers and children

If children dont have opportunities to be involved in individual work and if mums dont have opportunities to get support, children are more likely to have poor outcomes in late childhood and also into adulthood.

Dr John Devaney, Director of Education for Social Work, Queens University BelfastWAFNI You and Me, Mum evaluation 2013


Thank you for listening. Our Place Safe SpaceA 5 year strategy for children and young people

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Our Place – Safe Space The impact of domestic violence on children and young people