The Mayor of London and the University of Warwick are working in partnership to disseminate information about the critical importance of rebuilding the mother and child bond after domestic violence.

This conference is to launch and highlight awareness of two resource packs called Talking to Mum which enable frontline domestic violence workers and mothers to focus on renewing the bond with their child(ren) after domestic violence in an activity based way.

Focusing on facilitating communication allows children to share their innermost hopes and fears, an important part of healing and helps to build and strengthen a healthy relationship with their mother. The materials developed by the University of Warwick, are aimed at two age groups; children aged 5-8 years and young people from the age of 9 and above.

Aims

The conference aims to provide an opportunity to:

raise awareness of the ways in which domestic violence affects the mother-child bond
provide frontline workers with practical information and tools to address this issue in their work
share good practice in children and young people's service provision
for networking with other children and young people's workers
for agencies to purchase the two Talking to Mum activity packs.

Who should attend?

This event is aimed at staff working in services such as refuge workers, outreach workers, both in residential and non-residential settings, youth workers, education practitioners, social workers, health visitors, and family support workers.

If you are unsure as to whether this event is suitable for you please call 020 7785 3861/6 to discuss.

Programme

Time: :
Session

9.30am:
Registration

10.00am:
Welcome and introduction
Anni Marjoram - Mayor's Policy Adviser Women's Issues

10.10am:
Key note speech - What's on the horizon?
Jo Sharpen - Children and Young People's Development Officer, Greater London Domestic Violence Project (GLDVP)
The role of the Children & Young People's Development Officer
Vision
Training consultation
How the GLDVP and Jo can help you in your work with children and young people affected by domestic violence

10.25am:
Launch of Talking to Mum
Ravi Thiara and Agnes Skambalis, University of Warwick.
What is Talking to Mum?
How can it be used by mothers and workers?

11.00am:
Questions & answers

11.15am:
Break

11.30am:
Seminars / discussion groups
1. Alison Buchanan - Women's Aid
- Good practice in front-line service provision for children and young people
- How front-line workers can influence policy development
2. Linda Finn - Sutton Safer Communities Partnership
- Outline of how the programme based on the London Ontario model works to rebuild the mother and child bond after domestic violence and a screening of short film showing how the partnership programme has worked with mothers and children affected by domestic violence.
3. Colin Moorhouse - Breaking the cycle of domestic violence: creative approaches to reducing violence initiative
- Part of a Safer School Partnership, this project is based in a Haringey school and uses drama and expressive arts as its medium. There will be a screening of a DVD which outlines how the project works and a discussion of the overall aim of the project which is to work in partnership to further develop and disseminate good practice.
4. Pattie Friend - Learning to Respect Domestic Violence Education Project, London Borough of Hounslow.
- A programme of preventative work in Hounslow schools which aims to encourage young people to develop healthy respectful relationships, help young people resolve conflict in a positive manner, enable young people to develop skills of negotiation, help young people identify abusive behaviour within a relationship and build self-esteem and confidence.
5. Thangam Debbonaire - Domestic Violence Responses (DVR): Training, Prevention, Research
- A seminar group to share learning on what works in domestic violence prevention work with children and young people.

12.30pm:
Lunch break and networking
1.45pm:
Seminars / discussion groups
Please note these will be a repeat of the morning session (above) to give an opportunity to attend two groups

2.45pm:
Closing remarks - moving this work forwards
Davina James-Hanman, Director, GLDVP

3.00pm:
Close

Click here to download a copy of the programme with booking form in Word

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