Young people and domestic abuse spotlight

When I was 15 I got into a relationship that would change my life... One day I was on the phone to a male friend, and my partner decided that it wasn't okay for me to do that. That was the first time he hit me. After that it kind of just becomes a blur.

Chantelle, young survivor

Facts and figures

• 

  23%

  of young people exposed to domestic abuse are also demonstrating harmful behaviour themselves

• 

  47%

  of young people exposed to domestic abuse are being directly harmed by the family member

• 

  94%

  of young people experiencing abuse in their intimate relationships are female

Safe Young Lives report

Read the full findings in our policy report, Safe Young Lives.

Read the report

Blogs and videos

Preventing further harm to children from domestic abuse

Insights and resources from NSPCC professionals on their work with children and parents and what can be done to prevent further harm to children experiencing domestic abuse,

LGBT+ young people’s experiences of domestic abuse

The Voices Unheard project was established by a group of young people from LGBT Youth Scotland. Using a peer research approach, the group sought to find out lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people’s understanding, knowledge, and experience of domestic abuse in their families and relationships.

Why education is important for understanding domestic abuse

The need for education and prevention is vital. We know how children are impacted greatly by violence that is happening in the home; according to Radford (2011) 1 in 5 children have been exposed to domestic abuse, as well as domestic abuse being a factor in 60% of Serious Case Reviews,

A trauma informed response for working with young people affected by domestic abuse

Domestic abuse certainly fits these criteria and can be exacerbated by the fact that the trauma is perpetrated by someone close to the victim and by the unpredictable nature of abuse.

Living with domestic abuse as an ACE (Adverse childhood experience)

Dr Kat Ford, researcher at Public Health Wales, talks about the importance of considering adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) when responding to domestic violence.

Violence in young people’s relationships – Reflections on two serious case reviews

Dr Christine Barter is a Reader in Young People and Violence Prevention in the Connect Centre for International Research on New Approaches to Prevent Violence and Harm, at the University of Central Lancashire.

Play video

Messages from young survivors

We asked a group of young survivors what advice they’d give to other young people in their situation, and to the professionals supporting them.

Play video

Supporting young people in abusive relationships

This short film about young people, covers what you should consider when engaging with children and young people.

Play video

Assessing the risks that young people face

Jill Prodenchuk explains the development of the young person’s RIC, and how young people’s experiences and perceptions of risk can differ from those of adults.

More videos

• An interview with Professor David Gadd – Understanding young people who harm
• An interview with Dr Christine Barter – Abuse in young people’s relationships
• Voices Unheard – LGBT young people’s experiences of domestic abuse
• Young people affected by intimate partner abuse, Viv Bickham, SafeLives
• Using motivational interviewing with young people who harm
• Working with young people on healthy relationships: Equation

Listen: Chantelle's poem

Download podcast transcript

SafeLives · Chantelle's poem

Listen: An interview with Helen Bonnick – Understanding child to parent violence

Download podcast transcript

SafeLives · An interview with Helen Bonnick: Understanding Child to Parent Violence

Listen: An interview with Helen Bonnick – Disability and child to parent violence

Download podcast transcript

SafeLives · An interview with Helen Bonnick: Disability and Child to Parent Violence

More podcast episodes

You can listen to more podcast episodes about children and young people on Soundcloud:

• A mother’s experience of domestic abuse – Sarah’s story
• An interview with Professor David Gadd – the Boys to Men project
• An interview with a young survivor – Natasha’s story
• Dr Caroline Miles: understanding the young person’s experience of adolescent to parent violence
• An interview with a Ypva: Hollie Pearson
• Interview with a parent: Kyla’s story

You may also be interested in

Children and young people

Find out more about Safe Young Lives our programme of work across the UK to reduce the risk experienced by young people and to improve the care pathways they can access.

Your Best Friend

This project aimed to educate and empower young women, girls and non-binary people with the knowledge and confidence to spot abuse in relationships and support their friends.

Verge of Harming report

Our research report, Verge of Harming, exploring abuse in young people’s relationships and support for young people who harm.