News, Training & Blog
A new scheme in West Norfolk is working to support families experiencing child-to-parent abuse, offering help to those who often suffer in silence. This article from Lynn News highlights how community initiatives are making a difference.
The BBC drama Waterloo Road is taking on the challenge of portraying abusive relationships, including child-to-parent violence, with sensitivity and realism. This piece from The Independent explores how the show is helping to spark important conversations and reduce stigma.
Talk Listen Change’s important work around child-to-parent abuse has been featured in Closer magazine, helping to raise vital awareness about the issue. This coverage brings attention to the challenges families face and the support available through organisations like TLC.
Child-to-parent abuse is a hidden but deeply painful reality for many families. This thoughtful piece from The Guardian explores the emotional toll on parents who live in constant fear, offering insights into a rarely discussed but pressing issue.
Families living with child-to-parent violence often face heartbreak, fear, and isolation. This powerful BBC News article shares the experiences of those dealing with abuse from their own children, highlighting a growing issue that is still too often overlooked.
Today marks the launch of a landmark new report from the Respect Young People’s Service – Unsafe and Unheard: Lessons from families affected by Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA). This work was made possible thanks to the support of the Noel Buxton Trust and co-production with young people was done in partnership with Respect member TLC: Talk, Listen, Change.
Unsafe and Unheard brings together families’ and practitioners’ experiences of CAPVA, gathered through a variety of methods including co-production with young people, roundtable discussion and a national survey. The report highlights CAPVA as a hidden harm that requires a multi-agency, government supported, cross sector response.
Key findings from the report include:
- The lack of an agreed definition creates barriers to addressing CAPVA.
- Knowledge of CAPVA in front-line services is low. 68% of parents surveyed who didn’t access support were ashamed or worried about stigma and judgement.
- A system-wide approach is needed. 25% of parents said they didn’t ask for help because they were worried about what might happen if they did.
- While there are pockets of good practice, parents often have nowhere to turn. 64% of parents who didn’t receive support said they didn’t know where to go.
- Professionals dismiss and minimise the risk of harm. Where parents didn’t approach services, 39% said it was because they lacked trust in them.
The report includes powerful quotes from people with experience of CAPVA, such as these words from a parent who responded to Respect's national survey:
“In reality, this is your child, a child that is loved, and a child who you want to have a positive future. This all sits in the way of phoning 999 when you experience another episode of violence.”
This morning, the Respect Young People’s team launched the report at a webinar, and the recording will be shared on this page once it’s available.
Take a look to find out more and read our recommendations that offer a roadmap to meaningful change.
The Norfolk PCC has announced a pilot scheme aimed at helping young people and their families experiencing Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse. Respect Young People’s Service is proud to be collaborating on this multi-agency pilot across Norfolk.
Read more here: https://www.norfolk-pcc.gov.uk/news/pilot-to-help-vulnerable-young-people-will-provide-a-lasting-legacy/
Our new role of Merseyside Regional Lead – Child to Parent Abuse has been created in accordance with clear data and recommendations within Liverpool John Moores University CAPVA research study 2023.
The research study was undertaken to shine a spotlight on the issue and extent of CAPVA, helping professionals to understand the triggers and causes, and the impact on children, families, and the wider community – and to review the existing responses to this type of family abuse and the effectiveness of these.
The research made some key findings:
- Nearly 65% of parents and 85% of professionals agree that CAPVA is a problem in Merseyside, with a significant proportion of practitioners (65%) believing the issue has increased in the past year.
- CAPVA is rarely confined to a single form of abuse, with most parents and caregivers experiencing multiple types. While physical abuse is often the most reported, other forms like verbal, emotional, and financial abuse are considered “lesser” and often not reported to authorities. Emotional abuse is pervasive, with threats, insults, offensive comments, and humiliation being commonly reported. Coercion tactics such as manipulation, threats, and self-harm are also common. Destruction of property, restrictions on behaviour, and financial abuse are also prevalent.
- Mothers or female carers are most at risk.
- Behaviour peaks when a young person is in their early to mid-teens and abuse often escalates in severity over time
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACES) are influential. For example, when a child has witnessed domestic abuse, it can lead to them learning such behaviour.
- Only 3% of professionals believed there is currently enough support for young people or their parents or carers.
Respect Merseyside Project
Our new fully funded three-year Merseyside Project will aim to achieve clear goals so that:
- Practitioners working with young people and their families in the Merseyside area have a central point of contact for support and advice
- Professionals can better recognise and respond to CAPVA
- Universal services, such as Health and Education, have access to CAPVA general awareness training and specialist skills training
- Services are carefully designed by the people that they impact, are relevant and meet their needs.
The role will enable Respect to create and build strong working relationships with a variety of professionals across dedicated services such as Health, Education, Early Help, Youth Justice Service and Children’s Services.
During the development stage of the project, we will be reaching out to key statutory and voluntary sector agencies to build strong relationships, deliver CAPVA awareness training to managers and service leads, support the development of a multi-agency steering group and work closely with organisations who are already engaged with parents. This will allow us to identify what is needed across Merseyside and co-develop plans for improved services.
Our delivery phase of the project will ensure that we build a network of trained practitioners across Merseyside by delivering the Respect Young People's Programme (RYPP) and CAPVA awareness training, to a wide variety of practitioners.
Through the development of clear and concise referral pathways across Merseyside, we will work in partnership to reduce the stigma and shame often associated with CAPVA, empowering parents and caregivers to know that they can reach out in confidence, be listened to, and feel fully supported.
Special thanks to The Peter and Dorothy Robinson Charitable Trust for supporting with the Respect Merseyside Project.
If you would like to ask a question, discuss collaboration opportunities or have a general enquiry, please contact us at YPS@respect.org.uk
Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse CAPVA-Recognise and Respond - A 1 Day Online Course 3rd April 2025
This course explains why CAPVA happens, what the risk factors are and what practitioners can do if they suspect a parent is being abused. This course will cover appropriate safeguarding responses and help practitioners navigate the complexities of an issue that straddles both adult and children’s services. For more information contact yps@respect.org.uk
Respect Young People’s Programme (RYPP) 4 Day Online Course on 18th, 19th, 26th and 27th March 2025
The RYPP is an evidence based, whole family intervention designed to help families heal from CAPVA (Child/ Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse). The intervention follows the trauma recovery model, establishing a foundation of safety in the home first. to allowing guided relationship building between parent and child to take place. If you would like to know more contact the team yps@respect.org.uk or click here for more info Respect Young People's Programme | Respect
Delivering RYPP with Neurodivergent Young People -A 1 Day Online Course on 13th Feb 2025
This 1 day course provides further support to RYPP practitioners delivering the RYPP to neurodivergent young people. Each participant receives a resource pack with additional content designed to increase understanding and engagement. To be eligible for this course practitioners must have completed the 4 day RYPP training previously. For more info contact the team at yps@respect.org.uk or click here to book your place [insert link here]
Trauma Informed! Building Skills in Emotional Identification and Regulation - A 2 Day Online Course on 3rd and 4th 2025.
This toolkit provides 1:1 exercises for young people who need help to regulate their emotions to prevent violent outbursts. This toolkit was designed for young people who are neurodivergent and/ or trauma affected. The toolkit includes methods for developing stronger mind and body connection as well as techniques to soothe strong emotions. Includes colour manual and video resources. For more information contact yps@respect.org.uk
Dating Detox – a 4 Day Online Course on 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st March 2025
Designed to help young people navigate romantic relationships more safely, The toolkit is split into 3 sections – Safety/ Healthy Relationships/ Behaviour Change. It’s unique in that it address teen relationship abuse from 2 angles. First - helping young people avoid abusive relationships by increasing awareness and second by helping young people using harm. to stop. For more information or to book contact yps@respect.org.uk or click here for further details Dating Detox | Respect