Susie McDonald, CEO of Tender, said:

‘Tender is disappointed by the government’s response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report: “Victims in Their Own Right? Babies, children and young people’s experience of domestic abuse”.

‘The government claims to ‘recognise’, ‘value’ and ‘understand’ the report recommendations, but these are empty words without funding for specialist teacher training in all schools. There’s still no clear timeline or tangible plan for using prevention education as part of its commitment to halving violence against women and girls within the decade. 

‘We see the impact of our quality relationships education in our workshops every day; children and young people preparing for all their future interactions; friendships, romances, workplace and peers. These are life skills that will protect the next generation from domestic abuse and create communities of people who can aspire and thrive. 

‘The current cost of domestic abuse to the UK economy is £84billion every year; what a terrible, terrible waste that is, when investing in relationships education for every child is a fraction of that cost and will pay back in dividends.’