Several years ago we went to Torpoint to meet two amazing people.
Lis and David Carney-Haworth, Lis is the Headteacher at Torpoint Nursery and Infant School, David is a retired Police Officer.
They set up a scheme called Operation Encompass, a scheme to help children who have witnessed Domestic Abuse in their homes.
It is estimated 1 in 5 children witness Domestic Abuse within their homes, just imagine how these children must feel to see and hear their parents fighting, shouting and hurting one another, these are the silent victims of Domestic Abuse.
It seems incredible to me that a scheme such as Operation Encompass has not been in force until relatively recently.
Sometimes a child may arrive at school, without their school uniform, without having had breakfast or in an understandably emotional state of sadness, anger and confusion.
Schools are often the only place that these children can feel safe, it may be the only constant in their lives, the place they can be children. Not children carrying around this enormous burden of worry.
A child who witnesses Domestic Abuse, can not join in as they should, can not take part fully in the school day if they are constantly reliving what they have seen and heard.
It is difficult to believe that the Police, up until, Operation Encompass haven’t liased with schools when an incident of DA has occurred, even if they do it can be maybe six months later, in the mean time that child has not been supported.
The idea of this scheme, is so simple and yet is a life line to so many young people.
When an incident of DA has occurred where children have been present, before 9am the following morning the child’s school is informed. It allows the ‘key adult’ to either silently or covertly give that child support.
So, if a child arrives at school not looking perhaps the way they should, be that without uniform, or hungry or distressed the ‘key adult’ will be there ready to help, finding them uniform, giving them breakfast and giving them time, just knowing what has gone on the night before allows staff to support and help that child instantly.
If you would like to find out more go to http://www.operationencompass.org
Thanks to Lis and David, many more children now no longer have to be the silent victims.
