This free Confidential
Service is available to any child or young person under
the age of 16 years who is temporarily
or permanently resident within South Ayrshire.
It is expected
that referrals will come from:
Mothers/Carers
Guidance Teachers
Health Visitors
Youth Workers
Social Workers
Victim Support
Homeless Hostel Staff
Throughcare Workers
Or any agency/organisation who provide
direct services to women and children
Where possible
it is envisaged that this service will be offered to
young people whose mother/carer
is in
agreement. However it is recognised that they
may be exceptional
circumstances
which prohibit this.
This service will usually
be provided on a pre booked appointments basis although
crisis work
will always
be undertaken.
The service will at all times
uphold the group’s Child
Protection Policy which is openly displayed
within the support areas and routinely explained to potential
service users
and their carers.
The service offers emotional
support and aims to help reduce feelings of fear, anxiety
and
uncertainty
for
Children & Young
People who have experienced Domestic Abuse.
Children & Young
People can begin to look at life experiences
through a variety of approaches.
Emotional and practical support
can also be offered to Young People who come to
the attention
of
the Reporter’s
Department because Domestic Abuse is an
Issue, or to Young People who are cited
as witnesses in court in cases of assault
or who are the subject of contact & residence
orders.
1 to 1 emotional
support through the use of approved resources including
computer generated
art therapy
work developed
to help Children & Young People
make sense of their life experiences
by
Expressing & validating their
feelings
Mother / child relationship work
Advocacy
Everyday practical support
Peer group work
Telephone support
Studies asking where children
are during attacks on their mothers
have found
that the child
is in the same
or the
next room in 90% of cases (Hughes,
1992). Women’s Aid experience,
backed up by children's writing
(e.g. "Young
People Say…". 1997) & research,
e.g. interviews with children by
Jaffe et al (1990, p20) revealed
the majority
of children described in detail
assaults their parents were
unaware they had witnessed.
Living
with abuse is emotional abuse -
Children may directly observe violence or
threats against their mother;
overheard abuse; see the effects
without seeing the abuse or experience
the effects of fear & intimidation
themselves. Many try & help
their mother, & may
themselves be directly emotionally,
physically or sexually abused.
Our reviews or literature (Mullender
& Morley, 1995) suggests 40-60% of men who physically
abuse their partners also physically abuse children
in 70% of cases (Bowker et al). Studies show links between
child sexual abuse & domestic violence (Hester &
Pearson, 1998 and Forman, 1996). Many children disclose
mental, physical & or sexual abuse when they are
safe and they and their mother are supported.
Scottish
Women’s Aid experience has
shown us that Children & Young
People respond to living with and
fleeing Domestic Abuse as individuals
and are entitled
to support and understanding
in their own right. However their
experience of living with Domestic
Abuse may mean
they are:
Constantly tired/unable
to concentrate at school due to
lack of sleep
or anxiety.
Persistently late for
the same reasons or because their mothers
are also
exhausted.
Forced to wait at home
due to injury to themselves of their
mother or
threats form
the abuser.
Choosing to wait at home to care
for their mother and/or siblings, and/or trying to protect
them from abuse.
Depressed
and lacking in
self-esteem.
Displaying emotional and/or behavioural
difficulties at school.
'Making trouble' in an attempt
to unite their parents over their behaviour.
Excluded from school 14 Green Street Ayr,
KA8 8AD
Tel 01292 268284
This service can be accessed at
South Ayrshire Women’s Aid Centre
14 Green Street Ayr
Tel 01292 268284
Service times are:
Monday – Friday 9-4pm
 www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/domesticabuse
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