Beacons: Children and Young People programme briefing paper

Beacons (formerly known as ‘Connect’) was a pilot programme of interventions providing support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse. It ran between 2016 and 2021.

The Children and Young People programme included a range of interventions to fill the gaps and support children and young people who have witnessed, or been exposed to, domestic abuse within their families. The pilot focussed on children and young people who are:

• pre-school age (0-5 years)
• in families who are staying together
• affected by the impact of domestic abuse on parenting.

Key findings

261 children and young people were supported between 1st November 2018 and 31st October 2020.

The average age was 10 years old:

• 52% identified as male
• 98% live with their mother
• 21% are from a Black, Asian or racially minoritised community
• 11% have a disability
• 43% have been a direct victim of abuse and have experienced abuse for 5 years on average (Direct abuse is recorded as being a direct victim of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, maltreatment or neglect)

Children and young people were supported in a range of areas, including safety, relationships and mental health.