North Wales Safeguarding Board

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December 18, 2020

Wales Violence Prevention Unit

The Wales Violence Prevention Unit would like to share the interim report on ‘Understand the impact of COVID-19 on Violence and ACEs Experienced by Children and Young People in Wales’, which has been delivered in partnership with the Adverse Childhood Experiences Support Hub.

The impact of COVID-19 has been experienced disproportionately within society, with the health, social and economic implications affecting children from more deprived families the most.  The report highlights evidence to support concerns many of us have: that public health measures, such as lockdown and social distancing restrictions, which have been essential to contain the virus, have potentially placed children and young people at risk of increased exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and violence.

The report draws on data and analysis conducted through our ongoing monitoring of violence during COVID-19, as well as a review of literature to understand how the wider determinants of children and young people’s health have been impacted by COVID-19. I believe the findings in this report will not be a surprise to many of us but act more as reminder of the need for us to work together to intervene early and protect vulnerable children and young people in Wales.

The report demonstrates that although some children have adapted well to the lockdown, there are many children who have been trapped in home environments which have posed a risk, with exposure to adverse childhood experiences such as parental alcohol use, domestic abuse, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Children and young people have been spending more time on the internet, which has provided them access to educational resources and a means to interact with friends and family. However, this has increased the access perpetrators of online sexual abuse and exploitation have to children, and as a result, there has been an increase in these areas. In addition, the pandemic and subsequent public health measures, has had a detrimental effect on the mental health and well-being of children, with higher levels of stress, anxiety and loneliness. For some, this has resulted in health harming behaviours and suicidal ideation, with these children and young people struggling to identify healthy coping mechanisms due to the restricted access to both formal and informal support and the removal of protective factors.

Exposure to ACEs and violence during the pandemic has the potential to have a lifelong impact on children and young people, and there is a need to invest in early intervention to mitigate the impact of the exposure to ACEs and violence on children and young people, and reduce costs of late intervention.

While this report has provided an insight into the potential experiences of children and young people during the COVID-19 lockdown, further work is needed to fully understand the effects of the pandemics on marginalised and disadvantaged groups. I am pleased to say that we are already in the process of conducting a health needs assessment to further build on the findings of this report to better understand the impact of the pandemic on children and young people’s experience of violence and ACEs.

Please do read the report and share amongst your networks.

Director
Wales Violence Prevention Unit

Understanding-the-impact-of-COVID-19-on-Violence-and-ACEs

This post is also available in: Welsh

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Regional Administration Officer to the Safeguarding Board
Email: regionalsafeguarding@denbighshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01824 712903

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Concerned about a child?

If you know a child who is at risk of abuse or is being abused, it’s very important that you let the council or the police know.

If the individual is in direct danger, call the Police immediately on 999. If not, telephone Social Services as soon as possible to share your concerns.

Anglesey
01248 725 888
01248 353 551 (out of hours)

Gwynedd
01758 704 455
01248 353 551 (out of hours)

Conwy
Social Services: 0300 456 1111
Out of Hours: 01492 515777

Denbighshire
01824 712200: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
0345 053 3116: Evenings and weekends

Flintshire
01352 701 000
0345 053 3116 (out of hours)

Wrexham
01978 292 039
0345 053 3116 (out of hours)

Concerned About An Adult?

If you know of an adult who is at risk of abuse or is being abused, it is very important that you let the council or the police know

If the individual is in direct danger, call the Police immediately on 999. If not, telephone Social Services as soon as possible to share your concerns.

Anglesey
01248 750057
01248 353551 (Out of hours)

Gwynedd
Adults Department, Health and Wellbeing 01766 772577
01248 353551 (Out of hours)

Conwy
Adults:
0300 4561111 (Office hours)
0300 1233079 (Out of hours)

Denbighshire
0300 4561000
0345 053 3116 (Out of hours)

Flintshire
03000 858858
0845 053 3116 (Out of hours)

Wrexham
01978 292066
0345 053 3116 (Out of hours)

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