Doncaster parents abused by their children urged to sign up for support programme

Doncaster parents being abused by their 11 to 15-year-old children are being encouraged to register on a ground breaking support programme.
STOCK: Domestic violence illustraion.STOCK: Domestic violence illustraion.
STOCK: Domestic violence illustraion.

Starting in September, this will be the third time in a year that Doncaster Children’s Services Trust has run the nine-week course, which supports families suffering from ‘teen to parent abuse.’

Called ‘Getting On,’ the programme has been launched in a partnership between the Trust and its Youth Offending Service, with the Council’s Stronger Families and Safer Communities initiatives.

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Siblings of the girls and boys given a place on the programme can also attend the sessions, in a bid to help the whole family to recover together.

Operations Manager at the Trust, Cherryl Henry-Leach said of the programme: “Parents often only ask for support when abuse from their children is at crisis point and the family is at significant risk.

“The issue of ‘teen to parent’ abuse is very difficult for parents to address for many reasons, despite the trauma it causes to everyone in the home. Our priority is to increase safety within families, as well as support positive relationships and reduce violent offending and domestic abuse.”

“There is a set of criteria for applicants to be awarded a place, but we encourage parents to get in touch as soon as possible – and not to wait any longer if their family is suffering.”

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Applications close on September 1. To apply, call the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Navigators’ liaison line on 01302 734466, Monday to Friday, between 10am and 2pm.

Getting On is one of only a few projects tackling Teenage to Parent Abuse (TPA) in the UK. It is part of the Trust’s pioneering Growing Futures programme – a unique model designed to reduce the harmful effects of domestic abuse on children and young people.

One 13-year-old boy who attended the Getting On programme last year after being abusive towards his mother, said: I have changed my relationship with my Mum and with others, like teachers.

I still need to work on my anger but I’m calmer now and I’ve got better with my sister.”

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A parent who completed the course said: “I would advise anyone who needed support to come on this programme, I am still in contact with the other parents, and we still support each other”

Leading national research into ‘adolescent to parent violence’ undertaken by Drs Rachel Condry and Caroline Miles at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), University of Oxford was used to inform and develop the Getting On programme materials. Getting On is part of Doncaster Children’s Services Trust’s Growing Futures initiative. Led by Doncaster Children’s Services Trust, Growing Futures brings experts together – from health services, the police, Doncaster Council, the voluntary sector, schools and children’s centres – to develop a ground breaking new approach.