Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, has said additional funding has been secured to help protect children growing up with domestic abuse around them at home.

Today, Government announced £5.3 million for services supporting children affected by domestic abuse, within the Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls and Supporting Children (PVSC): Children Affected by Domestic Abuse (CADA) grant.

This means the Northumbria Police force area has an additional £178,976.94 of funding to deliver support locally to children and young people affected by domestic abuse. This brings the total level of CADA funding from 2022-2026 to £570,210.94, a 25% increase compared to the previous year’s funding.

Local services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner include Acorns, Action for Children, the Angelou Centre, Community Counselling Cooperative, Impact Family Services and Wearside Women in Need.

These organisations will continue to offer a range of support from 1:1 counselling and group work, to play therapy and therapeutic support for children alongside their non-offending parent.

Last year, these organisations all exceeded their service targets and extended their service offer due to rising demands.

Altogether, 382 children were supported with 1:1 and group work sessions, 280 joint parent and child sessions were delivered, and 244 parents were involved in engagement work.

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “It is so important that children grow up in a safe and stable environment. Sadly, not all do – so it’s vital they have somewhere to turn, especially those growing up in an environment where they’re exposed to stress, controlling behaviours and even violence. These children experience the domestic abuse and are very much the victims too.

“We know the damaging impact domestic abuse can have on the development of children and young people, so we need to do all we can to make sure they have access to the right support to help them cope with and overcome their experiences.

“Recent years have been a real struggle for services – they’ve been crying out for more funding to offer specialist support to children and feel it’s been more of an afterthought or an add on, yet it needs to be a priority area in its own right.

“They’ve been telling me demand keeps rising, but the money hasn’t been – so this latest funding boost really is a long due increase.

“I am thankful that we have a government who recognises this need and is taking steps to put this right. Of course, we need to keep pushing for more money, but it’s certainly a start and it all helps towards national targets set to halve VAWG over the next decade.

“I’m also particularly thankful to all our CADA services who, despite the financial challenges, have shown such commitment to supporting, advocating for and empowering the children they work with – they’ve been making a difference to so many lives.”

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a priority in the PCC’s plan for safer streets and stronger communities. In both her Plan and VAWG Strategy she has outlined a commitment to ensuring all victims of domestic abuse have access to the best support services to meet their needs – and that includes children.

Maxine Tennet, from the Acorns Project, a specialist domestic abuse support service based in North Tyneside and Northumberland, said: “We are delighted at the increase in available funding. Especially as it acknowledges the urgent need to support child victims-survivors of domestic abuse.

“Children have been the hidden victims for so long, and this funding is a crucial next step in ensuring Acorns can continue providing specialist care and support to help them heal and thrive.”

More than 800,000 children in England and Wales are believed to be living in a home where a parent is enduring domestic abuse, according to a recent study.

Under the Domestic Abuse Act, children are classed as victims if they see, hear, or experience the effects of abuse and they are related to the victim or offender. More information on victim services commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner can be found here.

ENDS

PHOTO: Susan Dungworth at the Angelou Centre – one of the commissioned service providers