The Hidden Victims of Domestic Abuse Webinar - 24 November 2022
The third Domestic Abuse Webinar was held on Thursday 24th November 2022. The theme was ‘The Hidden Victims of Domestic abuse’ and with this in mind presentations included domestic abuse amongst older people, young people and within ministerial families. We had contributions from Veronica Gray from Hourglass (Formerly Action on Elder Abuse), Maggie Wilkinson from Broken Rites, and Beckie Breakwell from What’s the Debate, as well as from Jess Phillips MP.
We also had contributions from the Revds Sonia Hicks and Michaela Youngson and from Carolyn Lawrence.
Watch the webinar on YouTube and check out the Church's Domestic abuse webpage.
Webinar Contributors
Veronica Gray (Director of Policy and Deputy CEO @Hourglass (Formerly Action on Elder Abuse))
Veronica Gray is Director of Policy and Deputy Chief Executive of Hourglass, the only charity in the UK focused on the abuse of older people and safer ageing. Veronica, who is based in Northern Ireland is responsible for all policy and external affairs within the charity and works to raise the profile of abuse, neglect and discrimination of older people across all four nations. She is an experienced safeguarding expert, was formerly Director of the charity in Northern Ireland, and has a reputation for innovative programme development and campaign
Revd Dr Margaret Wilkinson (Chair of Broken Rites @Broken Rites)
Margaret is the chair of Broken Rites, which she joined in 1987. Broken Rites supports divorced and separated spouses and partners of members of the clergy and lobbies the churches for fair treatment.
Margaret trained as a doctor and then specialised as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. After retiring from the NHS Margaret served in the C of E as a self-supporting Minister until 2020.
Beckie Breakwell (Managing Director of What’s the Debate? @What's the Debate)
Beckie founded What’s the Debate which provides training and consultancy. The organisation designs and produces resources that can be used alongside PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) including sex and relationships education by teachers, social workers and youth workers.
Beckie is an experienced child and young person’s worker with over 15 years of experience providing one-to-one and group support in sexual trauma, domestic violence, child sexual exploitation and emotional wellbeing. Beckie’s previous working experience includes sexual and domestic violence, and specialising in working with children and young people from 3 to 21 years of age that have been exposed to domestic abuse.
Tim Carter Director of Safeguarding for the Methodist Church in Britain
The Revd Sonia Hicks Former President of the Methodist Conference
Jess Phillips: Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley and Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding
Ruth Parrott
Ruth Parrott is President of Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB). She was a Primary school teacher, responsible for RE and Music, serving in mainly deprived areas and is a minister’s wife. She is a member of the Domestic Abuse Planning Committee.
Carolyn Lawrence
Carolyn Lawrence is a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference (2020 - 2021) and currently works in Shropshire as a debt centre manager with the charity Christians Against Poverty as well as being part of the leadership team of her local church. Carolyn grew up in a non-Christian home in a culture of fear and violence. In this webinar she shares how God has brought about healing and transformation in her life as she has faced the issues of the past.
The Revd Michaela Youngson (Assistant Secretary of the Methodist Conference)
Michaela Youngson is Assistant Secretary of the Methodist Conference and the Connexional Ecumenical Officer for the Methodist Church. Michaela was President of the Methodist Conference 2018-19 and Chair of the London District.