Talking to Mum Conference (2006)

Dates: 31 October 2006
Venue: n/a
Price: n/a

A day to explore ways of rebuiding the mother child bond after domestic abuse.

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.

The aim of this conference was to launch and highlight awareness of two resource packs called Talking to My 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.

The conference provided an opportunity

to raise awareness of the ways in which domestic violence affects the mother-child bond
to provide frontline workers with practical information and tools to address this issue in their work
to 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 My Mum activity packs.

The event was attended by 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.

The handouts and presentations given by our speakers and workshop leaders below are copyright of each presenter and their organisation.

SPEAKERS

Key note speech - What's on the horizon?

Jo Sharpen, Children and Young People's Development Officer

Greater London Domestic Violence Project

The role of the Children & Young People's Development Officer
Vision
Training consultation
How the GLDVP can help you in your work with children and young people affected by domestic violence

Click here to download Jo Sharpen's presentation

Launch of Talking to My Mum

Ravi Thiara and Agnes Skambalis

What is Talking to My Mum?
How can it be used by mothers and workers?

Click here to download Ravi Thiara and Agnes Skabalis' presentation

Children and young people's work: practice and policy

Alison Buchanan, National Children's Officer

Women's Aid

Every child matters?
Resources and developments?
Services designed for developments?

Click here to download Alison Buchanan's presentation

WORKSHOPS

Linda St. Louis - Barika Project, NCH

The project works in partnership with Tower Hamlets Women's Aid and aims to prevent the breakdown of relationships between women and their children. It does this through a variety of means including: providing community based one-to-one support and group work. Providing parenting advice and support to women focusing on behaviour management, negotiation skills and child development. It also facilitates parenting groups for women, encouraging mutual self-help.

For more information please visit the NCH website.

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.

Click here to download Linda Finn's presentation

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.

Click here to download Colin Moorhouse's presentation

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.

Click here to download Pattie Friend's presentation

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.

Click here to download Thangam Debbonaire's handout

Purchasing Talking to My Mum packs

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.

The packs are published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.