A Day in the Life of UKSNM: Parliamentary Version

In the height of UK SAYS NO MORE week, we held our Rally in Parliament where we took a stand against domestic abuse!

The event focused on the impacts of domestic abuse on children’s lives and the importance of their inclusion in the new Domestic Abuse Bill to ensure they receive the vital support they need in order to holistically recover from their trauma.

To acknowledge and gather support for our proposal, we asked parliamentarians to attend our rally in the Portcullis House. We had significant representation from MPs and our various partner organisations and would like to thank everyone for joining us!

We were delighted to hear from several champions, including Carolyn Harris (MP) as well as Dr Karl Broome from Stay Safe Global who compellingly argued for the case around including children in the new Domestic Abuse Bill.

 

Patrick Ryan, Hestia’s CEO, provided us with alarming numbers around millennials’ personal experience with domestic abuse (with 47% of 18-34 year olds growing up with domestic abuse in their family homes).

 

Carolyn Harris urged that we remember to protect our children’s rights through understanding their role in domestic abuse, and how they are often the silent victims. As a result, she focused on the importance of safeguarding children, through keeping them at the heart of the Domestic Abuse Bill.

 

 

Tim Loughton spoke about the importance of breaking the cycle of abuse through early intervention.

 

 

Edward Argar, Justice Minister, honoured us with an impromptu speech, echoing previous speakers through the recognition of the cycle of abuse and stated that “the Domestic Abuse Bill is a monumental piece of legislation and we must act now to support children.”

 

*Michelle, survivor of coercive control and physical abuse, shared her personal experience of living with a partner who abused both her and her child. As a result, this affected her son’s ability to perform well in school and he was subsequently diagnosed with Complex Trauma.

 

 

Dr Karl Broome shared his own childhood experience of living with domestic abuse, growing up without any interventions or support in place. With a lack of services, Karl discussed how we can engage men in ending domestic abuse and sexual violence. We are proud to have Karl co-host our new podcast outlining the role of men in domestic abuse.

 

Finally, Lyndsey Dearlove, Head of UKSAYSNOMORE, reminded us of our responsibility to ensure specialist support is available for children experiencing domestic abuse in the home and for those living in refuges to enable them to recover and move forward to have healthy relationships free from abuse.

 

From hearing survivors relay their poignant stories to champions repeating our statistical evidence, we urge MPs and members of the general public to take a stand against domestic abuse and continued support for children.

On the side, MPs showed their support through wearing our UK SAYS NO MORE pin, and taking a photograph at our photobooth alongside our banners and teddy bears. In light of supporting children who have endured domestic abuse, we presented several case studies and voice notes that were incorporated into our eight teddy bears. They were positioned around the event for attendees to hold and listen to the recordings of children’s stories (recorded by child actors). This was a way for the voices of children to be heard. As part of our forthcoming teddy tour, we invited MPs to write a special note of support and encouragement to children housed in refuges.

Why is this relevant and what does our evidence show us?

As our commissioned research by Pro Bono Economics suggests, the number of children in the UK who have witnessed severe domestic violence in their lifetime amount to 500,000 children. Additionally, it is indicated that exposure to violence could potentially increase the number of children with behavioural disorders by 35,000 to 100,000.

Hestia’s recent Opinium survey (2019) further demonstrates that approximately half of British millennials said that they have experienced domestic abuse in their childhoods, consequently suffering long-term negative impacts.

UK SAYS NO MORE Call to Action: Where we are at now

Our Rally last year called attention to the need for an increased understanding and focus on the impact of domestic abuse on children, and the need for prevention and early intervention to be at the heart of the Domestic Abuse Bill.

Through our understanding and knowledge around the ill effects of domestic abuse on children, UK SAYS NO MORE issued a Charter on Prevention in April last year. In May 2018, this was welcomed and supported by over 135 MPs and Lords.

Since, we submitted evidence to both the Joint Home Affairs Committee and the Joint Human Rights Committee. Additionally, Pro Bono Economics conducted research and published a report entitled ‘On the Sidelines: The Economic and Personal Cost of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence’.

In April this year, we were glad to provide evidence to the Pre-Legislative Committee.

Thus, our Parliamentary Rally this year welcomed MPs whose increasing support is vital for raising awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Harnessing their support, we hope to work together to ensure the needs of children are enshrined and secured in law.

 

With thanks to our Parliamentary Champions:

Alex Cunningham MP​

Alex Norris MP​

Alison Thewliss MP​

Andrea Jenkyns MP​

Andrew Dismore MP​

Andrew Gwynne MP​

Anna McMorrin MP​

Anna Turley MP​

Anna Healy​

Baroness Burt​

Baroness Chakrabarti​

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger​

Baroness Smith of Basildon​

Caroline Pidgeon​

Caroline Dinenage​

Caroline Spelman MP​

Carolyn Harris MP​

Chloe Smith MP​

Christine Jardine MP​

Christopher Stevens MP​

Cllr Kath McGuirk of Brent​

Daniel Zeichner MP​

David Davies MP​

David Drew MP​

Debbie Abrahams MP​

Diane Abbott MP​

Dr Sahota​

Dr Lisa Cameron​

Edward Davey MP​

Eleanor Smith MP​

Emma Hardy MP​

Gavin Newlands MP​

George Howarth MP​

Gerald Jones MP​

Gill Furniss MP​

Harriet Harman MP​

Helen Goodman MP​

Helen Grant MP​

Helen Jones MP​

Hugh Gaffney MP​

Iain Duncan Smith MP​

Ian Paisley MP​

James Frith MP​

Jim Fitzpatrick MP​

Jon Ashworth MP​

John Glen MP​

John Woodcock MP​

Judith Cummins MP​

Julie Cooper MP​

Justin Greenen MP​

Karen Lee MP​

Leonie Cooper MP​

Lesley Laird MP​

Lloyd Russell-Moyle​

Lord Beecham​

Lord Don Foster​

Lord Dubs​

Lord Gus O’Donnell​

Lord Hain​

Lady Healy​

Lord Henry Stevenson​

Lord Judd​

Lord Laming​

Lord Lipsey​

Lord Loomba​

Lord Morgan​

Lord Newby​

Lord Shipley​

Lord Tope​

Lord Watson​

Luke Graham​

Madeleine Moon MP​

Mark Lancaster MP​

Mary Creagh MP​

Matt Western MP​

Matthew Pennycook MP​

Mohammad Yasin MP​

Mr Dismore​

Ms Leonie Cooper​

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP​

Norman Lamb MP​

Navin Shah​

Onkar Sahota​

Patricia Gibson MP​

Paula Sherriff MP​

Pauline Latham MP​

Peter Dowd MP​

Peter Kyle MP​

Preet Gill MP​

Rachael Maskell MP​

Richard Benyon MP​

Rosena Allin-Khan MP​

Rosie Duffield MP​

Jim Fitzpatrick MP​

Jo Platt MP​

Jo Stevens MP​

Jo Swinson MP​

Joan Ryan MP – Enfield​

John Glen MP​

Jon Ashworth MP​

Judith Cummins MP​

Julie Cooper MP​

Justine Greening MP​

Karen Buck MP​

Karen Lee MP​

Kerry McCarthy MP​

Kath McGuirk​

Lady Blackstone​

Lady Chalker​

Lady Corston​

Lady Cox​

Lady Deech​

Lady Eaton​

Lady Gould​

Lady Healy​

Lady Howe​

Lady Jenkin​

Lady Jones​

Lady Lane-Fox​

Lady Meacher​

Lady Newlove​

Lady Northover​

Lady Prosser​

Lady Tonge​

Lady Uddin​

Lady Walmsley​

Lady Young​

Lesley Laird MP​

Lilian Greenwood MP​

Lisa Cameron MP​

Liz Saville Roberts MP​

Liz Twist MP​

Richard Benyon MP​

Rosie Duffield MP​

Rupa Huq MP​

Ruth George MP​

Sarah Champion MP​

Seema Malhotra MP​

Steve McCabe MP​

Steve O’Connell MP​

Thangam Debbonaire MP​

The Rt Revd the Lord Bishop of Coventry​

Tim Loughton MP​

Tom Brake MP​

Tommy Sheppard MP​

Tony Lloyd MP​

Tony Devenish MP​

Vernon Coaker MP​

Vicky Foxcroft MP​

Virendra Sharma MP