Sara Williams, CEO of KidsOut, joined members of the children’s charity, Bear Force, to ask Government to provide appropriate trauma counselling to children who have been affected by domestic abuse. The two charities are pursuing changes to what councils have to provide families who flee homes to find safety in refuges or safe houses.

A report by ‘Action for Children’ found that some councils provided no support services for children affected by domestic abuse, which can include emotional, violent, and sexual abuse. The problems increase further for very young children, with no age-appropriate support for children under the age of 5, who, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, “require specialist training and skills critical for early mental health, and ongoing skilled assessment and intervention for emerging mental health conditions.”

Our visit included meetings with Mr Brereton MP for Stoke-on-Trent who organised the event, and the Speaker of the House, The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle, before setting off to 10 Downing Street. Thanks to Jack Brereton MP, we will have further meetings with the Children’s Minister, David Johnston MP, and Safeguarding Minister, Laura Farris MP.

Left to right: Jenny Cornish, Ambassador, Bear Force, Lisa Carmel, Trustee, Bear Force and Ambassador for KidsOut, Richard Bland, Founder and Trustee of Bear Force, Sara Williams, CEO of KidsOut, Jack Brereton MP.