Help us improve funding and services for child domestic abuse victims

Contact [email protected] for access to the survey

Today the Domestic Abuse Commissioner is calling on professionals who support child victims of domestic abuse to help her map provision across England and Wales.

To do this she has developed a 30 minute survey, and responses will help improve the funding and services for child victims of domestic abuse.

All services who provide support to children affected by domestic abuse should have been contacted by our team already with the survey. However, if we haven’t contacted you please do get in touch to request the survey: [email protected]

First launched on 15th August, the Commissioner is today doing a final push for responses before the survey closes on 17th September.

Any organisation involved in supporting children affected by domestic abuse can participate.

Through this survey, the Commissioner aims to bring together information about what you do and how your work is funded. This is with the goal to provide Government with the evidence it needs to close the gaps in services for child victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

By using an online survey, the Commissioner hopes to reach every service provider for children affected by domestic abuse within England and Wales.

This year, we asked children and young people to tell the Commissioner what domestic abuse support they found helpful, what needs to improve and what they want to know about the services available. This was called ‘Tell Nicole’.

The next stage is to gather the data and evidence that we need to make the current picture, and the changes required, really clear to Government. Using this information, the Commissioner will report to Parliament and the new Government on our findings early next year.

The Commissioner is very aware of the calls on your time, and thanks you in advance for helping with this survey. When done, it will provide powerful information to ensure that we sustain and build up excellent work with children and end the postcode lottery. 

Notes

  • Three years ago, the Commissioner’s Patchwork of Provision report revealed huge gaps in service provision, particularly in services for babies, children, and young people, who are legally recognised as victims of domestic abuse within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
  • Only 29% of victims and survivors were able to access the specialist support they wanted for their children.
  • Following these findings, the Commissioner made improving the response to children and young people affected by domestic abuse one of her main priorities.