Welsh Women's Aid Newsletter, July 2009 Cannot read this email, click here
	Newsletter tools Send us enews feedback Forward to a friend Dear emma, Welcome to the July edition of Welsh Women’s Aid’s monthly newsletter, telling you about news from Welsh Women’s Aid, past and future events, information from our member groups and much more. This month we were extremely pleased with the recent House of Lords judgement which will allow women & children in refuge to retain their homelessness status; 118 800 get set to launch their mobile phone directory - read on to find out how to opt out; and details of our Annual Conference are finalised for September.      INDEX  WWA NEWS                 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES                   TRAINING          WWA IN THE MEDIA              EVENTS          NEWS FROM WOMEN'S AID GROUPS Welsh Women’s Aid want domestic abuse to be recognised as a gender based issue, with appropriate services and support to be available to women and children, resulting in the eradication of all forms of violence against women.     WWA NEWS WWA Conference 2009 - SAVE THE DATE! Welsh Women’s Aid would like to invite all you to attend the WWA Annual Conference. This year’s conference will look at 2 themes; on Day 1 we’ll be discussing Violence against Women, with speakers including Joyce Watson AM for Mid & West Wales, Cathy Owens Director of Amnesty International Wales and DCI Martyn Dew from Gwent Police.  The plenary session from 2-5pm is open to all, outside organisations welcome. On Day 2 workshops aimed specifically at our member groups will look at raising the standards across the WA movement, considering areas such as remodelling services, partnership working and outcomes monitoring.       Date:    11th - 12th Septemeber 2009 Venue:    University of Wales, Lampeter For further information please click here, or contact Emma Harris on 029 2039 0874. Back to top       Mobile Phone Directory Launches The 118800 Directory of mobile phone numbers goes live this week.  This allows members of the public to pay to search the directory, and get a message sent to somebody's mobile. If you do not want your mobile number available to everyone you need to go to this site and it will put your number ex- directory. To remove your number: visit the 118 800 website Go to the ex-directory page Input your mobile number and the security code they provide You will receive and text message on your phone immediately - input the code sent to you onto the website. You will then be ex-directory. Back to top          New Forced Marriage Guidance for Professionals The Forced Marriage Unit has issued a revised set of multi-agency practice guidelines for frontline professionals (such as teachers, police officers, social and health care professionals, housing officers) to help them to work more closely together and to better identify and protect children and adults at risk of forced marriage. So far this year, the FMU has received 770 calls or emails to its helpline regarding forced marriage, an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year. Researchers suggest that, if this upward trend continues, by the end of 2009 more than 1,540 people in Britain will have been forced into a marriage. Visit our website for more details. Back to top       House of Lords judgement allows women & children in Women’s Aid refuges to retain homeless status. The House of Lords heard last week that women who are occupying rooms in women's refuges, having fled domestic violence, do not have any accommodation which it is reasonable to continue to occupy. As a result, they are "homeless" within the statutory definition of homelessness and entitled to the benefit of homelessness assistance from local housing authorities under Part 7 Housing Act 1996. The House of Lords rejected an argument by Manchester City Council and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that women living in refuges had "accommodation" and would not necessarily be homeless. Giving the leading judgment, Baroness Hale of Richmond referred to the submissions by the Women's Aid Federation of England on the role of women's refuges which can only be temporary relief and a breathing space for victims of abuse, and should be protected from bed-blocking. Had the previous 2008 Court of Appeal ruling had been upheld, women who left refuge accommodation could have been regarded as “intentionally homeless”, as the refuge would be seen as accommodation which they could reasonably continue to occupy indefinitely.   The House of Lords judgment reverses this earlier decision, by recognising that, except in very rare cases, women and children who have left home because of violence remain homeless even if they move into refuge accommodation. Back to top     New FM Research released by the Department for Children, Schools & Families Research released in July 2009 estimates that the national prevalence of reported cases of forced marriage in England could be between 5,000 and 8,000. Key findings: 38% of cases were from marriages that had actually taken place 96% of victims of FM were female 41% of reported cases involved children ages under 18 (14% were under 16 years of age; 26% were aged 16-17) 40% involved adults aged 18-23 years of age 85% of FM victims were of UK citizenship Visit our website for more details. Back to top     Who does What to Whom? (VAW Research Group, University of Bristol) New research, by Marianne Hester (University of Bristol), which explores the gender of domestic abuse perpetrators and looks at patterns of domestic violence relating to gender, has shown that: A greater number of incidents of domestic violence are attributed to men The violence used by men against female partners is much more severe than that used by women against men That children are present in the majority of incidents (sometimes relating to child contact) And that there was a slight increase over time in the number of women recorded or arrested as domestic violence perpetrators. The research draws on evidence from a study done in the North of England (Hester et al. 2006) which showed that 92% of perpetrators of domestic violence recorded by the police were men and, 91% of their victims were women. The research also showed that male perpetrators had many more repeat incidents recorded than female perpetrators. This pattern has been said to be common in police records across many areas in England. For more information, click here to download the full research. Back to top      WWA Race for Life A big thanks to everyone who supported WWA staff in the Race for Life last week.  7 members of staff took part, raising over £160 for the charity, all completing the 5km course within 1 hour.  Well done to everyone who took part in the event. Back to top          CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES Funding for Children’s Work - Update Thank you to all groups who gave us information for the audit on funding for children’s workers. 23 groups responded and this information will be used as evidence to promote the core funding of children’s workers and will be presented to the Welsh Assembly Government. The Children Matter Project is developing its own Vision and Mission Statement.  These should be finalised soon and will be published in the next Newsletter.   New Childwork Files These files, now being used by groups, contain basic information about the children or young person, assessments, support plans, risk assessments, consent forms etc. Regional Children's Service Development Workers have been training groups in how to use the new files.  If you haven’t received training but would like to, please contact your regional worker.  The files are now available to download on the Children Matter pages of the members area of the website - click here to sign in. Conferences The Communities First Information Service Conference is being held at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea on 8th October 2009. WWA have been asked to exhibit at the Conference, so if you’re attending the conference, come and visit our stand! Research The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published the 2009 edition of indicators of poverty and social exclusion in Wales, providing a comprehensive analysis of trends. The study: looks at progress on low income since the mid-1990s; examines unemployment and problem debt in the current recession; considers what action government could take to lessen the recession's impact on people in poverty. Key points include: Over the ten years to the mid-2000s, almost all the reduction in the number of children in low-income households (‘low-income children’) in Wales occurred among those in workless families. This leaves as many low-income children in working families as in non-working ones. The latest ‘headline’ low income statistics, for 2007/08, show that even before the recession, the problem of low income was already rising sharply, to the extent that half of the previous improvement in child poverty had already been lost. For 2008, the young adult (16–24) unemployment rate was 16%. As a result, around half of the unemployed people in Wales are under 25. To view the whole report click here. NSPCC A new report published by the NSPCC on 23 June, shows that 1 in 12 children and young people (aged 11-16 years old) has been kept awake at night listening to the sounds of domestic violence. Also, the latest study done by Mirlees-Black (1999) show that half of adults who experience domestic violence are living with children under the age of 16 years. Click here to read more. Recommended Books 'After domestic abuse: children's perspectives on contact with fathers'. Summary: Outlines the findings of a Master's thesis. This qualitative study involved 11 children aged 8 and 14 years who had experienced domestic abuse in which their fathers were the perpetrators and had previously had contact with their fathers following parental separation. The research explores the feelings the children have towards their fathers, their understanding of their relationships with both parents and their preferences for contact with fathers. Publication details: Edinburgh: Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, 2009 pp [4] Author: Fiona Morrison Corporate authors: Centre for Research on Families and Relationships 'Learning Through Child Observation' Summary:  A handbook for professionals working in, or students preparing to work in, children's services.  This accessible text examines the value of observation, it's use in assessment and the practical aspects and methods of observational study. The author focuses on the importance of  fully recognising the child's developmental and emotional state when intervening,  and the need to see children `holistically' and as unique individuals within the wider context of the family and community.New chapters include Views of Children and Childhood, which draws on European educational and sociological perspectives and highlights the contrasting views of children, and The 'Hundred Languages of Children', which considers the place of creative engagement and multiple forms of expression by children. Publication details: Jessica Kingsley Publications July 2009, 176 pages, paperback. Title: Learning Through Child Observation. Author: Mary Fawcett. ISBN: 9781843106760. Price:  £14.99 Back to top Child Protection Awareness Training The Children Act 2004 states that ‘Safeguarding Children is Everyone’s Business’.  This training is available from Welsh Women’s Aid for all staff, volunteers and management committees in groups and can be delivered in-house. The aim of the training is to enable Women’s Aid groups to understand their responsibilities under current legislation and guidance from the Welsh Assembly Government. For further information, please contact Cheryl Martin on 02920 390874.     “I saw my dad push my mum out of a window – she had to go to hospital” “I’m glad I’m here now (in refuge) because in my old house I ran away all the time”     “I like the children’s worker, she’s kind and I can talk to her about anything”. “I wish I was a fairy and then nobody in my family would get hurt”  Back to top           TRAINING Training is available to Women's Aid groups and outside organisations.       NEW! In-house SPriNT Refresher Training Delivered by WWA Who is the course for? New staff/ volunteers who need to use SPriNT or any staff who feel that they need a ‘refresher’ on the SPriNT process. Aim To be able to go through the SPriNT process and understand how to add, amend and update client details within the database. Objectives By the end of the training, delegates will be able: To login to SPriNT database To add a new client Make a referral for a new/existing client To update client details To allocate a client to a project/room/waiting list Cost: £150 per day (+ VAT and Trainer expenses)     ----------------- New Rollling Programme   All courses can be provided in-house at a new rate of £150 per day. The rolling programme for training will start again in September, including training on: Introduction to Domestic Abuse & WWA Mental Health First Aid Stop it Now! Child Development Introduction to the Law in relation to Domestic Abuse Feminism workshop       PLUS...coming soon CRB form-filling workshops For further information on any of the above training or to book your place please contact Becky Jones on 02920 390874 or log in to the members area of the WWA website. Back to top   Accredited Training     Welsh Womens Aid has the following units in the accredited training portfolio. These units are at varying levels, depending on knowledge and experience. Welsh Womens Aid can deliver these units in house or by running a course, we are flexible depending on numbers. Welsh Womens Aid has accredited trainers across Wales and can offer training at a local level.     Understanding Domestic Violence & Related Services Domestic Violence Awareness Understanding the effect of Domestic Violence on Children Forced Marriage Training the Trainer     Welsh Womens Aid is working with Open College Network Wales, the Scottish, Northern Irish and English Women’s Aid Federations to develop further units. For more information on courses and costs,  please contact Colette Morgan, Accreditation Project Co-ordinator.           Empower Coaching & Mentoring Services Coaching is the most effective way to increase the potential of individuals and develop organisations.  Empower has a team of qualified, experienced coaches who will help you to achieve your goals. We provide: Executive coaching Life coaching Mentoring Staff mediation Team building Change management For a full list of our services please visit the Empower website, email Empower or phone 01874 730067. Back to top       WWA & DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE MEDIA                                                                                         SHOCKING figures have revealed the scale of the domestic violence problem in North Wales, with more than 11,000 incidents reported to police last year  (Daily Post)    Women in the UK without secure immigration status whose residency permit has the condition, 'no recourse to public funds', are at particular risk from domestic violence because it means they are unable to claim benefits or housing assistance. (The Guardian)   A specialist rape support service marking its 25th anniversary fears it may not have funding to see out summer.  North Wales Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASA) says it may have to close in two months...   (BBC)   Survey to be carried out on trans domestic violence - It is estimated that one in four LGBT people have experienced domestic violence - the same rate as heterosexual women - but previous research has suggested this figure may be much higher for trans people... (Pink News)   MANY male victims of domestic violence are too ashamed to report the abuse. Carl Brown talks to a man who is willing to break his silence in a bid to raise awareness of the widespread, but often ignored, problem. (The Guardian)   The Home Office have produced a film  about a woman who suffered domestic violence at the hands of her partner. (You tube) Back to top                                                                    EVENTS          Million Women Rise Camp 2009 August 21st 2009 -  August 28th 2009 The Million Women Rise Coalition and Women’s Land invite women and their girl children to join them in beautiful countryside in Ceredigion, Wales, to share time around the fire, singing, talking and making music together, and enjoying local walks. There will also be time spent discussing the work of Million Women Rise and plans for the 2010 march. You are welcome to stay for the week or a few days. At the end of the week, the WIT, Women in Tune festival is taking place nearby from Friday 28th – 1st Sept. Women are invited to continue camping if they wish to attend WIT.       For more information and to book contact Ange or telephone her on 07717579651.  Registration closes 7th August. There is also a Facebook page to keep up to date with news about the event.  See the WWA Events pages for more information. Back to top                        NEWS FROM WOMEN'S AID GROUPS                                                                                                    Vacancy - Lliw Valley Women's Aid Refuge Manager: £26,784 pa Based : Pontardawe, Swansea      We are looking for a resolute and enthusiastic female Manager with excellent management, interpersonal and planning skills to head the team in our Refuge. Your role will be responsible for the management, maintenance and development of the front line service offering support, advice and guidance to women and their children living in the Refuge. Click here for more details.  For an application pack please email Helen Smith or telephone her on 01792 869480. Back to top        ------------------------------       Volunteers are wanted by: Caerphilly WA Cardiff WA Torfaen WA Click HERE for more info.          Back to top       Women's Aid groups please contact Emma Harris with any news you wish to be included in the WWA newsletter.        Welsh Women's Aid is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 No. 23753R.  WWA is an Exempt Charity. VAT Registration No. 922 7943 07 Welsh Women's Aid, 38-48 Crwys Road, Cardiff CF24 4NN | Phone:  029 2039 0874 | Fax:  029 2039 0878     Email: info@welshwomensaid.org.uk Freephone 24 hr National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 80 10 800 To unsubscribe or change your details please click here.