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

1. Our Place – Safe Space The impact of domestic violence on children and young people Improving Children’s Lives Conference Queen’s University Belfast 20 – 22 February 2014 Sarah Mason and Sandra McNamee Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. Total number of calls managed between April 2012 - March 2013 47,597 (8.5 % increase)

7. Children experience domestic violence with all their senses. They see it, hear it, feel it… fear it.

9. How does domestic violence impact upon children and young people? Effects of domestic violence on children and young people

10. What do children and young people tell us? I didn’t 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 mam’s safety. I blamed myself for what was going on and always felt I was going to be in trouble. I couldn’t control my anger, I couldn’t communicate with people properly or get my opinion across without getting annoyed and mad. I didn’t feel happy and didn’t trust anyone.

11. 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 child’s basic right to feel safe and secure in the world. Behind Closed Doors The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children UNICEF research Women’s Aid believes domestic violence is a violation of children’s rights.

12. Meeting the needs of children and young people has always been a priority in Women’s Aid.

14. Getting it Right! – Learning from the experts… • To have a safe space that’s our place • To be happy • To have adults we can trust • To be clearer about abuse • To have information more ready for us • For stigma to be removed.

15. 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.

16. Our model for working with children and young people

17. Prevention work in schools Helping Hands for Children (primary) Heading for Healthy Relationships H4HR (post primary)

18. Developing Social Guardians to deliver Helping Hands We all have the right to feel safe all of the time There is nothing so awful or so small that we can’t talk about it with someone Others have the right to feel safe with us Plan to Protect Model, Developing Social Guardians to Deliver Helping Hands training

19. Capacity building with teachers Developing Social Guardians to deliver Helping Hands In 2012 – 2013 120 schools involved 168 teachers trained To date: 410 schools involved 614 teachers trained

20. Feedback from teachers… • 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.

21. 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 Violence

22. 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.

23. Supporting mothers – You and Me, Mum Case study Kelly’s story

24. 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 levels • Quantitative and qualitative data • Utilises creative qualitative evaluation tools

25. 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, Women’s Aid across Northern Ireland has provided refuge to 14,902 children and young people Since 2008, 515 mothers and 884 children supported through You & Me, Mum

26. In 2012- 2013 Women’s Aid supported 5,767 children and young people

27. Our most important measurement tool…

28. Children 5 – 10 If I could sum up in one sentence how Women’s Aid has helped me it would be… • I know to tell someone about bad secrets • To know my oh oh! Signs • To be able to tell my mum how I’m feeling • I feel safe and happy • I will feel lost without them It made me happy • It was the best ever

29. Young people 11 - 18 If I could sum up in one sentence how Women’s Aid has helped me it would be… • That it helped me to feel better and safer • I know what to do when I am scared • I am happier and not getting into trouble at school Becoming valued by myself • I am happier now It helped my moods and behaviour • I learned how to have respect

30. After getting support I feel safe and more confident to go up the town. I am not as worried about mam’s safety as I was. I’m 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.

31. Things that could have been better… • More trips! • More talking and less filling stuff in! • More parties! • A longer programme (I didn’t want it to end).

32. The importance of supporting mothers and children If children don’t have opportunities to be involved in individual work and if mums don’t 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 Belfast WAFNI You and Me, Mum evaluation 2013

33. Thank you for listening.

34. To find out more about our services…