Children occupy nearly half of refuge space in Wales

At the start of the school holidays not all children will be looking forward to spending their Easter break in their family home.

Research carried out by Welsh Women’s Aid shows that nearly half of children in refuge have witnessed abuse and a third of the children have been subject to some form of abuse. Children and young people also lack access to support services, with 10% of children living in refuge having no access to NHS services, such as a doctor or dentist.

Welsh Women’s Aid new ''You Tell Us'' campaign is designed to engage children and young people into giving their views and opinions on the services they receive whilst living in refuge. A series of posters and leaflets, designed by 15 year old Molly Burley, who attends Bryn Hafren Comprehensive Girl’s School in Barry, will be used to inform children and young people that their views matter. Molly, a young, talented artist was commissioned by Welsh Women’s Aid to create the designs as it was thought that a young person could best relate to other children and young people.

Welsh Women’s Aid identify with the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Child which states that:

"All children and young people have the right to say what they think should happen when adults are making decisions that affect them".

The project is a response to the Welsh Assembly Government’s National Service Framework for Children and Young People.

Children’s Co-ordinator at Welsh Women’s Aid, Claire Sharp, said:

"Almost half of the people, living in refuges are children. It is imperative that we receive systematic input from children and young people in order to plan our services to best meet the needs of children at a time which can be very difficult for them. The information will  also be used  to challenge and inform policy on domestic abuse".