South Ayrshire Multi Agency Partnership
Information For Young People
What We Know
We have supported thousands of children and young people (CYP) who have experienced
domestic abuse and we understand the problems they face:
- most CYP are in the same or next room when domestic abuse is happening and they
often risk their own safety to try and protect their mum from the abuser.
- abusive men often use threats to harm family members or to have CYP taken into care
as a way of controlling their partner.
- CYP are often told by the abuser that the abuse happens because of them and so they
feel guilty because they think the violence is their fault.
- some CYP who have experienced domestic abuse worry they will go on to become abusers,
but if you have been abused it does not mean you will do this.
We understand that living with domestic abuse can affect you in lots of different
ways:
- you might be tired all the time because you are not getting enough sleep.
- you might often be late for school because of this or because your mum is also tired.
- you might have to miss school sometimes because you or your mum have been hurt or
because someone is threatening to hurt you.
- you might decide not to go to school because you want to stay at home to look after
your mum or brothers and sisters, or to try to protect them from being hurt.
- you might be unable to concentrate at school because you're anxious.
- you might feel confused, ashamed, afraid, lonely and angry or really down and worthless.
- you might also have feelings of loss, maybe for a pet or belongings or other things,
because of change.
- you might have other difficulties that affect your life.
Remember, you are not to blame.