Welcome to 2024!

It is customary to hope for new and better things in the year ahead, but we know that for many families the passing of time seems to bring only a consolidation of their anxieties and pain. The holiday period can be especially stressful and so many people will be emerging bruised and battered – and not just emotionally. But there are reasons to be hopeful as we face the coming months and I would like to share some with you.

Uppermost in my mind is the current Home Office consultation around child to parent violence and abuse – and I would remind you to take a look at this and complete it if you haven’t already had a chance to do so. This is something we have been campaigning and working towards for the last ten years, and the fact that it is now taking place marks real progress in the recognition of the issue of child to parent violence and abuse, and the impact it has on so many lives.

It may not feel like it if your own experience is different, but we now see significantly more understanding within services around the country, inspired by training provided both at university level and as ongoing CPD from a growing number of providers based in organisations around the country. Take a look at the Training and Events page to keep up to date with what’s going on and to book a place yourself. Some events are free!

This awareness feeds into the responses and programmes provided, which are now more specific to the issues, and better meet the needs of those they serve. The Directory of Services was migrated to Respect over the course of the last year. Still not enough services to meet the needs of everyone where ever they are, and still problems when funding runs out, but better than it was. You can search for help and support, or to link in with colleagues, via the Respect Young People’s Service website.

Interest in research continues to grow. It is always encouraging to hear from students, at whatever level, about the work they are undertaking and the conclusions they have made. The Research page on my website is a difficult one to keep up to date, but is a good way to see what’s going on or to connect with people undertaking similar study.

In the next few months I expect to see more coverage of child to parent violence and abuse in the mainstream media. We have been so fortunate that journalists have really caught hold of this issue for many years, and the depth of investigation and analysis continues to grow. The ways issues are covered can have a real effect on the views of the general public, but also help to promote the need for more attention at governmental level, and so it is crucial that reporting is thorough and honest. My thanks go out to all those journalists who have taken our concerns on board and have sought to put this firmly on the agenda.

When I reflect back over the last ten years the situation is now so different. I am aware that there is always so much more to do, but excited with the changes we see. And while it may sometimes be hard to see change day to day for individual families, the stories that I hear also tell me that real change can happen in the small things as well – less violence, kinder words, a better understanding, a happier home – that can bring hope and encouragement for a life that is healthier and safer for all concerned. A happy new year to you all!