Responding to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report on babies, children and young people, Victims in their own right?, Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said:
“The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 rightly recognised that children are victims in their own right, but as the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report reiterates, this has not yet translated into sustainable funding for children’s services.
“A lack of funding means Refuge’s services often rely on precarious, short-term grants for children and young people’s workers, who are crucial in delivering the support children need and deserve to rebuild their lives.
“Domestic abuse can affect people of all ages, but the impact on children can be particularly significant. Children often experience abuse from a perpetrator they should be able to trust, which can lead to severe trauma. In 2023–24, children made up 52% of the residents in our refuge accommodation – a stark reminder of how many young lives are affected by domestic abuse.
“All survivors of domestic abuse have the right to tailored support, and children are no exception. Refuge has been working closely with the UK Trauma Council to develop a holistic, trauma-informed support model, but this must be matched by increased, long-term funding for lifesaving children’s services.
“Supporting children effectively requires a multi-agency approach, so we echo the report’s call for a shared language framework that places the onus on the perpetrator and fully considers the child’s needs.
“Every child has the right to live free from fear. Refuge calls for the report’s recommendations to be implemented by all relevant Government bodies without delay. And with the Spending Review on the horizon, now is the time to commit to sustainable funding for specialist organisations. Children’s wellbeing – and lives – depend on it.”
