children and young people as partners in the design and commissioning of research fiona morrison...
TRANSCRIPT
Children and Young People as Partners in
the Design and Commissioning of
Research
Fiona Morrison
Scottish Women’s Aid
Introduction
• Scottish Women’s Aid is an umbrella organisation that campaigns and lobbies for effective responses to domestic abuse
• Our members are 39 Women’s Aid groups which provide specialist services to women, children and young people who experience domestic abuse
Moving house research
• SWA commissioned University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Learning in Child Protection (CLiCP) to research children’s views & experiences of moving house because of DA
• One of the unique features was the extent of children’s involvement in the commissioning, design & dissemination of the research
Where the research came from
• Sustaining Tenancies focused on women’s needs
• It found out what mum’s thought cyp needed
• Important to find out what cyp themselves needed when they moved house because of domestic abuse
Why involve children?
• ‘New wave’ of DA literature from children’s own perspectives, has shown that they can be the experts…
• understand the experiences of cyp• speak the language of cyp
• Commitment to children’s right to influence decisions and matters that affect their lives
• Research more informed & reflective of their experiences
How we involved children
3 key processes:
1. Setting research agendaFocus groups with children before definingresearch objectives
2. Members of research advisory groupOversaw development of project – design brief,recruiting researchers, directing & assisting researchers.
3. Dissemination of findingsCo-presented findings to the government &homelessness conference
Set the research agenda
Focus groups with children& young people to see what they thought wasmost important:
Older group– Bullying– Settling into a new area– Difficulties with family
relationships – mums, dads, siblings
– Having to start at a new school
Set the research agenda
Younger group– Leaving family & friends
behind– Moving to a run down,
horrible area– Having to change schools– Leaving possessions e.g.
clothes & toys– Trying to fit in to a new area
‘I was angry with my mum cos she was leaving my dad and I was angry with my dad cos he
was letting her leave.’
‘If I could change anything about when I moved it
would be that I could have taken my grandma and my brother with me.’
‘I would just b
e
really happy and
just talk to
them
and hopefully meet
them again.’
‘Erm, th
e thing th
at
helped me most when I
left was (s
omeone)
taking me out and lik
e
helping with su
pport
and advice…Just like
erm, ta
king me out for th
e
day so I d
idn’t have to
think about it (h
aving to
leave home).
‘The thing that helped me most when I moved house was still going to
my old school and being able to talk to my friends’
Direct the research
• Children were full members of the advisory group
• Children were supported throughout whole process
• Children were empowered to contribute to the research design & dissemination process
The Research Findings
Methodology
• 30 children & young people were interviewed
• Respondents aged 10-16 years
• Interviews conducted as a ‘journey’
Cyp - What They Said
First Move – evoked strongest feelings
Awareness of domestic abuse Anxiety/Fear about personal
safety and their mothers Confusion and resentment Difficulty leaving precious and
familiar things behind
Heading to refuge with a few bags
(With a few bags)
Positives: A move to safety
Some were more positive about1st move:
Where move could be more planned
Where they had information about where they were going and about why they were moving
Where there was time to pack Where the accommodation they
were moving to was judged to be as good quality as the old
Support needs: the importance of talking
• Difficulty finding someone they could completely trust to talk to
• Mum as an important source of support
• Wider family more a source of practical support (moving, transport)
• Importance of being able to maintain old friendships
Talk to someone who keeps secrets
Boltholes & Escape Routes
Need escape routes and bolt holes:
Relatives Room at Gran’s house Friend’s house Somewhere outside, e.g. in the
woods
Sources of Support
Schools – major anxiety moving to a new school or returning to old school
Implications for relationships with friends
Lacked confidence in school to provide support they wanted
Sources of Support
Refuges – problems sharing space, but they are safe and yp don’t have to pretend about domestic abuse
Support of new friends Dedicated support worker
played vital role as a trusted adult with whom they could open up
Escape from problems by doing outings and activities
Sources of SupportOther organisations – initial contact
with police and/or housing to find accommodation viewed as helpful
Provide practical support (e.g, putting family in touch with women’s aid, transport, emergency accommodation)
Designated workers – important source of support; enable yp to talk about experiences
3 Main Messages1. Finding someone you can trust
to talk to about problems; and not bottling things up
2. Getting out of violent situations (and persuading mum to go)
3. No matter how bad it is at the time, there is help out there, it can get better
Recommendations• Support agencies should prioritise
helping young people to maintain old friendships/networks and build new ones where not possible
• Young people may have support mechanisms in place; e.g. private boltholes. Support agencies should find ways to respect and facilitate these
• Ensure yp have someone they can talk to about experiences; someone they can trust to keep information private
Recommendations• Ensure easier access to own
dedicated support worker at every stage (from when they first move home to resettlement)
• Recognise that young people appreciate honesty, even where moves are not able to be planned
• Cash help directly to young people to help them replace precious things they have not been able to take with them
Remember….
