Domestic violence - Home Safe project

Home Safe Annual Report now available.

News: Islington Women's Aid launches new service for children and young people affected by domestic violence. If you know children affected by this crime, they may benefit from this intensive age-specific group work - please see the flyer for more details or contact Islington Women's Aid.

Home Safe: The Domestic Violence Prevention and Support Project for Schools has been in place in Islington since April 2004. It is funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF ) until March 2008 and is part of the Islington Domestic Violence Strategy.

The Islington Domestic Violence Strategy has defined domestic violence as follows:

"Domestic violence is essentially a pattern of behaviour which is characterised by the exercise of control and the misuse of power by one person, usually a man, over another, usually a woman, within the context of an intimate or family relationship. It can be manifested in a variety of ways, including but not restricted to, physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and the imposition of social isolation and is most commonly a combination of them all. Women from all communities experience domestic violence. Women from every class, age, race and religion are abused, as are women with disabilities. Violence and abuse can (and does) occur in lesbian and gay relationships."

There are many agencies both in Islington and nationally, which provide support to children and families affected by domestic violence. Professionals can also utilise these contacts for advice or referral for pupils or parents you may be working with. This website also provides you with information and guidance to help you work with pupils or parents affected by the crime of domestic violence - see the downloads on how to respond to disclosures from adults or children and the guide to survivors' legal rights.

If you personally are affected by domestic violence you can also use the numbers listed in contacts and resources. You can also download brief information on your legal rights. Your employer or Trade Union, for example the NUT or Unison, may also be able to provide support and guidance and may have a policy on domestic violence. For information and advice on any matter related to domestic violence you can also contact the Home Safe Project Officer.

Why are we covering this issue in schools?

One in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives, and their children are the hidden figure in this statistic. Domestic violence harms children too and is recognised in all child protection procedures and legislation.

In every school in Islington there will be children living with domestic violence, whose lives, learning and futures are being damaged as a result. Children and young people will use many strategies to cope with domestic violence and these can have negative effects, not only on them as individuals, but on their classmates and their school community as a whole.

Children's behaviour and attendance at school are often affected, as is their ability to concentrate on their work and to form positive relationships with adults and peers. Added to this is the fact that children and young people still express tolerance towards violence against women, with research from one study showing that one in five young men and one in ten young women thought it was sometimes acceptable for a man to hit his female partner, for example if he believed she flirted with someone else, cheated on him or "dressed outrageously".

It is with these statistics in mind that domestic violence prevention education in schools has been identified as an important area for development in the London wide strategy against domestic violence.

Schools have a vital role to play, not only in recognising the signs of domestic violence in children, providing services to protect them and their parents and ensuring their right to education is not disrupted, but also in building the relationships of the future and ensuring that no children become victims or perpetrators of domestic violence in their adult lives.

When children feel safe and supported they will be better able to learn and grow, creating a safe and positive school community with a strong message that abuse of any kind is not acceptable.

Support and training is available to help schools address this issue.