Information, guidance and resources for schools on preventing and addressing domestic violence and abuse.
These resources may help if you're completing our Bristol ideal award or other healthy schools awards.
Find more resources for teaching about domestic violence and abuse in our RHSE hub.
Domestic and sexual abuse covers different issues:
- domestic violence and abuse (DVA) including teen abuse and parent abuse
- sexual violence and rape
- forced marriage and so-called honour based violence
- female genital mutilation (FGM)
- human trafficking and sexual exploitation
- sexual harassment and sexual bullying
Domestic violence and abuse
pdf Bristol Against Violence and Abuse (BAVA) defines DVA (200 KB) as:
“The misuse of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological or financial control by one person over another with whom they are or have been in a relationship. This includes family members.”
DVA:
- covers a wide range of behaviours and may be actual or threatened
- includes using children to control an adult victim, and as such, child abuse and domestic abuse can overlap
- is a continuing pattern of events, behaviour and forceful control
- happens in all sections of society but may be more likely depending on your race, sexuality, disability, age, religion, culture, class or mental health
"Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse:
- psychological
- physical
- sexual
- financial
- emotional
Adolescent to parent violence and abuse
The Home Office has developed and published information for people working with children and families on how to identify and address the risks created by adolescent to parent violence and abuse (APVA) Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/420963/APVA.pdf (opens new window).
Who is affected by domestic violence and abuse
Domestic abuse happens within an intimate relationship, between people who used to be in an intimate relationship, or between family members.
Anyone can be a victim of abuse regardless of:
- age
- race
- income
- religion or belief
- gender
- disability
- culture
- sexual orientation
However, some people may be more vulnerable to abuse. For example, women and girls are more likely to have reported domestic and sexual violence than boys and men.
In Bristol, 81% of domestic abuse cases involve women as victims and men as perpetrators.
The mission of the Bristol Against Violence and Abuse Strategy 2015-2020 Go to http://www.bava.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Bristol-Against-Violence-and-Abuse-Strategy-2015-2020.pdf (opens new window) is to:
- take a zero tolerance approach to domestic and sexual violence and abuse
- effectively prevent gender-based violence and abuse through campaigns, education and training
- support survivors to cope and recover from violence and abuse
- hold abusers to account
How domestic violence and abuse affects children and young people
According to the NSPCC, Go to https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/domestic-abuse/domestic-abuse-facts-statistics/ (opens new window) one in five children in the UK has been exposed to domestic violence. Children often go to school the next day with little or no support.
According to the NCPCC Go to https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/ (opens new window), if a child lives in a home where there's domestic abuse, they're likely to be at risk of other types of abuse, such as:
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- emotional abuse
- neglect
Children who witness domestic violence may do worse in school. They might struggle with self-esteem and have trouble forming relationships (Byrne and Taylor 2007 Go to https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13575270701353465 (opens new window)).
Girls are more likely than boys to report experiencing abuse in their relationships, regardless what age they are. About 66% of girls and 32% of boys aged 14 to 17 report having experienced one or more types of abuse from an intimate partner.
Young adolescents between eleven and fourteen, are as likely to experience abuse as older teenagers (Barter et al, 2009 Go to http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/09/03/491204888/how-domestic-violence-in-one-home-affects-every-child-in-a-class (opens new window)). Young people, including those below 16, are as likely as adults are to experience severe abuse. (SafeLives, 2017 Go to http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Safe%20Young%20Lives%20web.pdf (opens new window))
Domestic violence has a devastating impact on children and young people which can last into adulthood.
Signs that a child may be abused
The NSPCC has put together some useful information about the signs and symptoms of different types of child abuse Go to https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/signs-symptoms-effects/ (opens new window).
What schools can do
Report a concern about a child
Schools have an important role in:
- identifying children who might be living with domestic violence
- giving children a safe place to get support
- stopping abuse from happening in the first place by helping children and young people to understand what a healthy relationship is
Young people consistently agree that violence prevention work should happen in the school.
Best practice guidance
In December 2017, the department for education published a guidance document, pdf sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges (298 KB) .
This document offers advice for governing bodies, proprietors, headteachers, principals, senior leadership teams and designated safeguarding leads and flags key resources for practitioners.
Resources including lesson plans
The Bristol Healthy Schools team offers:
- free access to a PSHE curriculum for primary schools
- our Sex and Stuff pack, which includes lesson plans for every year group, covering all Relationships and Sex Education topic areas
- our guide on pdf how to identify and respond to abuse (978 KB)
The Sex Education Forum Go to (opens new window) provides many resources on their website.
The Women's Aid website has lots of useful resources and information Go to https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/downloads-and-resources/children-young-people/ (opens new window) including free lesson plans called Expect Respect.
Information on honour-based violence on the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership website.
Local services and initiatives
Our Bristol Ideal award has a list of standards for schools which can help promote healthy relationships and tackle domestic and sexual violence.
The Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership website has information, resources and training for professionals on all types of violence and abuse. It also has up to date information about local support services for children and young people and adults.
Bristol Zero Tolerance Go to https://www.facebook.com/BristolZeroTolerance/ (opens new window) is an initiative set up by the Bristol Women's Commission, working towards Bristol becoming free from gender-based violence, abuse, harassment and exploitation. Bristol is the first city in England to take on this challenge.
Spotlight on Young People and Domestic Abuse Go to http://www.safelives.org.uk/knowledge-hub/spotlights/spotlight-3-young-people-and-domestic-abuse (opens new window) focuses on groups of victims who may be 'hidden' from services, or face additional barriers to accessing support. Each Spotlight brings together insight from survivors, practitioners, academics and other experts, alongside their own data.
The Survivor Pathway Go to http://www.survivorpathway.org.uk/ (opens new window) is an online resource for anyone wanting to know more about specialist sexual violence support services in the South West.