APPENDIX 74
Memorandum submitted by Relate
MAIN POINTS
FOR THE
ATTENTION OF
THE COMMITTEE
— Relate brings a mainstream
perspective to the issue of domestic violence and abuse and we
hope that this will be a useful viewpoint to add to others that
the Committee have heard.
— One of the blockages to progress
in addressing the problem is that despite the valiant endeavours
over many years by workers and campaigners within the specialist
domestic violence sector this has not spread to the mainstream
of society or of service providers.
— It is crucial to take a long
term, systematic holistic approach to achieving change. Ellen
Pence, one of the leaders in the specialist field, has said that
we are about 20 years into a 100 year project. Government action
needs to encourage sustainable initiatives.
— We in the voluntary sector
need to embrace a multi agency approach that provides a network
of effective support to vulnerable adults experiencing domestic
violence and abuse.
— We also need to respond effectively
to those who use violence and abuse against partners or ex partners
so as to help them recognise the harm caused by their behaviour
and choose to change.
— The need for action is urgent.
UNICEF recently estimated that nearly a million children in the
UK are exposed to violence to their parent or carer. These children
and young people are the hidden victims and they suffer long term
effects.
ABOUT THE
SUBMITTER
— This submission is being made
by Rose Mary Owen who has lead role for Relate on Domestic Violence/Abuse
and Child Protection.
— Relate has over 60 years experience
of being the largest provider of relationship support in the UK.
We deliver relationship counselling, education and sex therapy
to individuals, couples and families in over 600 locations nationwide
as well as by phone and online.
— Relate works with 150,000
people a year, including 9,000 families and 22, ooo children and
young people. We work preventively with Children's Centres, schools,
surgeries, prisons and in 600 local outlets.
— For approximately 30% of our
clients, domestic violence is an issue in their lives.
— The Big Lottery Fund and the
Home Office have supported our 3 year Domestic Violence &
Abuse Recognition and Response project. The new models that we
are developing and trialling are being evaluated by the University
of East London and will be transferable to other mainstream providers
for instance to GPs and Social Workers and Talking Therapy providers.
— With funding from DCFS, we
have recently produced a report on the development of Domestic
Violence Prevention Programmes (for those who use violence and
abuse against their ex/partners) in association with three of
our Relate Centres. We have also produced a good practice handbook
on this new development Bridging to Change.
— Inter-agency working relationships
have been a crucial factor in all our developments in this area.
Key examples of this at a national level are the Greater London
Domestic Violence Project and Respect.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Resource the development of co-ordinated
community response to domestic violence and abuse. The government's
National plan to address domestic violence is a good start but
it needs driving with targets and accountability not only across
statutory and voluntary sectors but also across all government
departments. This needs to led by an independent body for instance
by emulating the successful model of the Greater London Domestic
Violence Project at a national level.
March 2008
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