26 September 2025
Commenting on the on the government’s response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s April report on children and domestic abuse, Dr Jo Casebourne said:
“We know that there is an urgent need to increase effective support for children who experience domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is one of the main drivers of children’s involvement with social services and exposure to domestic abuse has a huge impact on a child’s future. To see this urgency reflected in the Commissioner’s report, and in the government’s response today to her recommendations, is very encouraging.
“Our 5-year REACH plan highlights the pressing need to fill evidence gaps about what works to prevent domestic abuse and to support children who are affected. The government’s commitment to strengthening data and evidence to fill these gaps in response to the Commissioner’s recommendation is an important and welcome step forward.
“The government’s response to the Commissioner rightly signals the need for more work to understand the barriers and enablers to evaluating domestic abuse-related child and family focussed services, and highlights the efforts of Foundations and others in this area.
“The current lack of evaluated services is a major obstacle to increasing evidence based, effective support for children, and to helping community services demonstrate their impact. Collectively we must address this.
“As the government commits to strengthening data and evidence, Foundations has made huge progress with partners in developing our understanding of what works to support children affected by domestic abuse. This autumn we will publish the findings of breakthrough evaluations of services for young people and children and share these widely.
“The Commissioner’s report rightly highlights the importance of centring children’s voices on this agenda, and the government’s response underscores the need for collaborative working to achieve change. As we prepare to publish our own research, we look forward to partnering with local services, children and young people, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the government, to strengthen services, and improve the outcomes of some of our most vulnerable children.
“In addition to its response to the Commissioner’s report, we look forward to hearing more about government’s plans to increase evidence-based support for babies, children and young people in the forthcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.”
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Contact: Charlie Baker, Senior Press Officer, charlie.baker@foundations.org.uk