Gloucestershire charity says more needs to be done to prevent children from experiencing domestic abuse
It’s after almost 8,000 reports we made to the NSPCC were made in the past year.
A Gloucestershire domestic abuse charity says more young children need to be taught about boundaries and healthy relationships to help them spot the warning signs of domestic abuse.
It’s after calls and messages to the NSPCC helpline from adults whose main concern was about children experiencing domestic abuse have risen to a record level.
Fear Free say teaching young children about boundaries in friendships can teach them valuable lessons for relationships later in life.
Kate Williams from the charity told Greatest Hits Radio that a child’s brain development can be affected by experiencing this trauma: “If a child has witnessed physical violence at home from a young age and their friends goes to give them a hug at school, their brain is formed that if somebody comes towards them, as simple as giving them a hug gesture, they are seeing that as a direct threat.”
She added: “It is really important that when you work with children who have experienced domestic violence that we look at the reaction versus response.
“Because we have to understand where they are in their development and the impact the trauma has had on them to be able to understand how to support them.”
There were 7,825 contacts to the NSPCC helpline on this subject in the year to March, up 14% from 6,838 for the previous 12-month period.
The NSPCC said it is the highest total since their records began in 2021.
This means an average of 21 adults are contacting the helpline each day with concerns about children and domestic abuse.
Coercive or controlling behaviour was mentioned in 2,633 child welfare contacts in the past year, up from 2,040 the previous year.
The NSPCC said around a third of child welfare contacts about domestic abuse ended in a referral to authorities such as police and children's social services.
Paddi Vint, from the helpline, said: "The surge in contacts to our helpline about domestic abuse is alarming, particularly given we have seen the highest annual total of reports around this topic since records began.
"Domestic abuse can have a dreadful impact on the whole family, with the effects being both immediate and lasting well into the future.
"It is vital everyone is aware of the signs of domestic abuse - including coercive control - which we know is becoming more prevalent in our communities.
"Greater collective vigilance should ensure the relevant authorities are involved more quickly when a child is at risk."