Blog Article | 24 May 2019

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

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