Listening to Children - Women's Aid
"Children speak truth"
Anthony (age 6) on his postcard to Margaret hodge MP, Minister for Children, Young People and Families.
It was precisely with this thought in mind that the Woman's Aid Listening to Children Campaign, supported by Ragdoll Foundation, came to life.
It is a national project to get more government recognition of the need to provide appropriate support for children affected by domestic abuse focusing on 3 main areas:
- To involve children in the planning of the campaign
- To undertake a national postcard campaign, obtaining drawings and statements showing how young people feel and what they would like the government to do
- A one off event at Portcullis House to present findings to Ministers
At least 750,000 children witness domestic violence every year and three-quarters of children on the child protection register have experienced domestic violence. At this time of great legislative opportunity Womens's Aid is concerned that the needs of these children may be overlooked both in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill and in the Children Bill. There is still no statutory funding stream for children's support services in refuge organisations. There is still no legislation requiring the courts to ensure that the contact and residence orders are safe for children.
The Women's Aid Listening to Children Campaign aims to facilitate that these children's voices are heard directly by government. In part one of the campaign 4000 post cards were distributed to 210 refuge organisations along with a members pack with illustrated drawings to help the children understand the process.
In April 2004 Women's Aid asked children all over the country who had experienced domestic violence, to complete postcards with the phrase "I want the government to...". We asked children of all ages to write and/or draw their feelings, wishes and needs. We encouraged them to express what helped them in their situation and what they thought might help other children in a similar situation. Hundreds of children, predominantly between the ages of 4 and 16, participated in the campaign.
The postcards were sent to Rt. Hon. Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Children, Young People and Families. The messages on the postcards should not be new to any of us, they reflect what research findings have already indicated. Children want the violence to stop, they want safety for themselves, their mums, and their siblings, they want support and they want the government and the courts to listen to them.