Guidance

Domestic abuse: resources for youth justice practitioners

Information, materials and examples of work that respond to domestic violence and abuse.

This guidance was withdrawn on

Visit the Youth Justice Resource Hub for more information on this topic.

Overview

Domestic abuse within youth justice can affect young people as perpetrators, witnesses or victims. It can affect various types of relationship including those between parents or carers and child, or intimate teenage relationships.

Domestic abuse covers a wider range of behaviours than domestic violence. It does not just mean sexual and physical violence.

There are many other forms of abuse that can take place within relationships, such as:

  • intimidating and threatening behaviour
  • playing down the impact of violence
  • financial abuse
  • isolating a victim from their family and friends
  • emotional abuse

Read the Home Office guidance on Domestic violence and abuse for more information. Specific guidance on adolescent to parent violence and abuse is also available.

Useful websites

The following sites contain information and resources for young people and practitioners.

Against Violence and Abuse (AVA) children and young people campaign

AVA is a charity that provides support, resources and training to local councils and individual practitioners.

Visit the AVA website for information on their children and young people focused project. The site includes a forum for you to seek and share good practice.

Break4change

Break4change is an intervention designed to tackle child to parent abuse. It was piloted in Brighton, with a range of youth justice agencies working together.

Visit the Youth Justice Board (YJB) effective practice library for more information on Break4change.

DARE (domestic abuse, recovery and education)

DARE is a community-based programme is for children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. Newcastle Youth Offending Team run it.

Visit the YJB effective practice library for more information on DARE.

Nottingham Domestic Violence Forum

The Nottingham Domestic Violence Forum (NDVF) runs sites for young people on the subject of domestic abuse.

The Respect Not Fear site is for young people. It contains resources to help them recognise and report abusive relationships.

The GREAT Project site is for children of primary school age. It also has a section for adults worried about domestic abuse and young children.

The Equation site holds information about domestic abuse practice, training and events for practitioners.

Respect

Respect is the UK membership organisation for work with domestic violence perpetrators, male victims and young people.

They offer training to help practitioners carry out successful interventions using a range of therapeutic and practical tools.

Visit the respect website to find out more information.

‘This is abuse’ campaign

The Home Office provides resources including the discussion guide, posters, cards, leaflets and toolkits.

Use the interactive resources on the ‘This is abuse’ website and find out more about the campaign on GOV.UK.

Published 12 June 2015