Urgent call for Independent Inquiry into the treatment of Domestic Abuse in Family Court

125 cross party MPs, led by Labour's Louise Haigh, wrote to the Ministry of Justice demanding an independent inquiry into the failure of the family courts to protect victims of abuse and their children from domestic abuse.

Disappointingly the MoJ responded by saying that they would hold a snap (12 week) Inquiry but that it would not be independent. Retired senior Family Judge Sir Paul Coleridge remarked on the Victoria Derbyshire programme that they would discover nothing meaningful in just 12 weeks due to the complexity of domestic abuse.

DAWSA Whole Systems Approach to be rolled out

Led by Northumbria Police, this project brings together forces from Cleveland, Durham, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside. Together, we are developing a comprehensive Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, which includes A Whole System Approach to tackling domestic abuse.

Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: statutory guidance

The Department for Education (DfE) has published statutory guidance for schools in England on the teaching of relationships education in primary schools, relationship and sex education in secondary schools, and physical health and mental wellbeing education in state funded primary and secondary schools.

Childline sees over 6,000 counselling sessions about gender and sexual identity in the past year

Thousands of young people turned to Childline last year for help with issues including coming out and homophobic bullying.

Childline carried out 6,014 counselling sessions with children and young people about issues relating to gender and sexuality last year – on average 16 a day¹.

Childline figures from the past 12 months show:

Unfair so-called 'same roof rule' finally abolished

On 13th June 2019, the so-called 'same roof rule', which has unfairly denied many victims and survivors access to the Criminal Injuries Compensation they deserve following child sexual abuse and other sexual and violent offences, was finally abolished.

New service to tackle economic abuse

SEA (Surviving Economic Abuse), in partnership with MoneyAdvicePlus has launched a national advice service for banks and building societies in contact with victims of #domesticabuse

Ben Hoare Bell Domestic Violence Update

Please see below for a press release from BBC Newsnight on an important issueconcerning children in care which was aired on 20th May. Ben Hoare Bell Partner, Cris McCurley, was on 5 Live that morning discussing this issue.

BBC NEWSNIGHT INVESTIGATION REVEALS NATIONWIDE POLICE CONCERN ABOUT UNREGULATED CHILDREN’S HOMES.

Households where the woman is the sole earner are significantly poorer – new research

The term ‘female breadwinner’ conjures images of power-dressing corporate businesswomen who are bucking traditional gender norms to ‘have it all’. However, high-earning women make up only a small proportion of female breadwinners, the majority of which tend to work less hours than their male counterparts do, and are less likely to be in managerial positions.

Law in the Making empowers survivors to influence the domestic abuse bill through innovative new project – Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid has launched an innovative new project to support survivors of domestic abuse to engage with the law and empower them to bring about real change for future survivors as the landmark domestic abuse bill goes through parliament.

Together Women Mentoring and Advocacy project looking for partners

Together Women Project moves women out of crime into positive futures, working with them in safe, women-only spaces, building resilience and developing strengths that enable them to move away from damaging lifestyles. We operate various services throughout the North of England, tailored to the needs of women. Each woman accessing Together Women is given an individualised package of support to meet their unique needs.

North East Women's Network

Briefing