Helping to protect and support children from domestic abuse

Last year alone, the Children’ Commissioner found that 830,000 children experienced domestic abuse in their homes. The pandemic has worsened the outcomes for children living with domestic abuse across the country. Mothers who were ready to leave their homes were forced to stay, as refuges began to fill up and housing teams closed down overnight.  Families that managed to escape during lockdown arrived at refuges in need of food and yet social interaction with other families had to be avoided. For many children who left everything they have known behind – their home, friends, toys, maybe a beloved pet – the pandemic has simply compounded feelings of anxiety and distress.

Mothers told us that they found the transition to home-schooling difficult. Women who had recently moved into a refuge, temporary accommodation or bed and breakfast and those with pre-school children found it difficult to maintain a routine. Many did not have the space, desks or IT equipment to support their children’s learning. Children need our support more than ever. The role of the Child Support Worker has never been more important. Too often children are the silent, hidden victims of domestic abuse.

Witnessing domestic abuse has profound effects throughout a child’s life, and the emotional and psychological impacts can last into adulthood. Being exposed to violence at a young age increases the risk of developmental issues, particularly among children under five, and can lead to behavioural issues in teenage years. In younger children, trauma can manifest as wetting the bed, complaints of stomachache, insomnia and aggression, as well as not reaching developmental milestones around speech and cognition. As they grow up, children may experience lack of engagement with education and problems forming peer relationships.  This impact on children is now formally acknowledged by the Government, who recently recognised children as victims of domestic abuse within the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Children make up two thirds of the residents in our refuges, the majority of whom are under five. They arrive atRefuge having experienced trauma, having seen their mother physically harmed or emotionally abused by the perpetrator – often their father or someone else they love – or been harmed themselves. 97% of children living with domestic abuse are exposed to that abuse. Refuge Child Support Workers play a critical role in a child’s recovery; they welcome families to the refuge, introduce them to other children and create a safe environment.

Olwyn Foundation is delighted to supporting the salary of a Child Support Worker and outreach services for Refuge.

 “One morning I was running a play session with a group of children. I was talking to them about making wishes. One of the little boys, Lewis*, told me that he had once made a wish that had come true. Looking down he said quietly that one time when his dad was hitting his mum in the street he wished that it wouldn’t happen anymore, and now it doesn’t.” Refuge Child Support Worker.