News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

31 July 2021 12:00 ~ Is the child maintenance system delivering value for money for children, separated parents and the taxpayer – NAO Survey – closing date

NAO is carrying out a value for money study on whether the child maintenance system is delivering value for money for children, separated parents and the taxpayer. A brief description of the scope of our work can be found here.

To help us with our audit, we would like to hear from you about your experience of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). This consultation will be open until midday, Friday, 30 July 2021.  We are aiming to publish our value for money report towards the end of 2021.

About Us

The National Audit Office (NAO) scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government and the civil service. We help Parliament hold government to account and we use our insights to help people who manage and govern public bodies improve public services.

By statute we must perform audits of public sector organisations for Parliament. We audit the financial accounts of departments and other public bodies. We also examine and report on the value for money of how public money has been spent.

About The Child Maintenance Service

The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP’s) CMS administers its 2012 scheme for separated parents who are unable to arrange child maintenance between themselves. The 2012 scheme was introduced to replace the Child Support Agency’s (CSA’s) 1993 and 2003 schemes. All ongoing maintenance arrangements (and remaining CSA cases with unpaid maintenance arrears) are now administered by the CMS.

Our Work On Child Maintenance

This value for money study builds on the work we do each year to audit and report on the two sets of financial accounts that DWP produces for its child maintenance schemes. These relate to the 1993 and 2003 schemes and the CMS 2012 scheme.

We have also reported on child maintenance as part of our value for money work in the past. This includes reports on Child Maintenance: closing cases and managing arrears on the 1993 and 2003 schemes and Child maintenance 2012 scheme: Early Progress.

Complete the survey online at https://naosurvey.nao.org.uk/s3/Child-Maintenance-Service

June 29, 2021

31 July 2021 12:00 ~ Is the child maintenance system delivering value for money for children, separated parents and the taxpayer – NAO Survey – closing date

NAO is carrying out a value for money study on whether the child maintenance system is delivering value for money for children, separated parents and the taxpayer. A brief description of the scope of our work can be found here.

To help us with our audit, we would like to hear from you about your experience of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). This consultation will be open until midday, Friday, 30 July 2021.  We are aiming to publish our value for money report towards the end of 2021.

About Us

The National Audit Office (NAO) scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government and the civil service. We help Parliament hold government to account and we use our insights to help people who manage and govern public bodies improve public services.

By statute we must perform audits of public sector organisations for Parliament. We audit the financial accounts of departments and other public bodies. We also examine and report on the value for money of how public money has been spent.

About The Child Maintenance Service

The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP’s) CMS administers its 2012 scheme for separated parents who are unable to arrange child maintenance between themselves. The 2012 scheme was introduced to replace the Child Support Agency’s (CSA’s) 1993 and 2003 schemes. All ongoing maintenance arrangements (and remaining CSA cases with unpaid maintenance arrears) are now administered by the CMS.

Our Work On Child Maintenance

This value for money study builds on the work we do each year to audit and report on the two sets of financial accounts that DWP produces for its child maintenance schemes. These relate to the 1993 and 2003 schemes and the CMS 2012 scheme.

We have also reported on child maintenance as part of our value for money work in the past. This includes reports on Child Maintenance: closing cases and managing arrears on the 1993 and 2003 schemes and Child maintenance 2012 scheme: Early Progress.

Complete the survey online at https://naosurvey.nao.org.uk/s3/Child-Maintenance-Service

June 29, 2021

Report Abuse in Education helpline receives hundreds of calls since launching in April

Of these calls, 366 contacts related to sexual abuse and exploitation with references to harmful sexual behaviour and peer abuse.

Of the total contacts, 80 led to a referral to an external agency. Information about the caller was known in 154 contacts and of these, 79 were adult or child victims, 45 were from parents concerned about their child while 56 were female, 18 male and five unknown. It’s been confirmed the helpline will run for a further four months until October.

Commissioned by the Department for Education, our independently run Report Abuse in Education helpline was set up after thousands of testimonies alleging child sexual abuse and harassment in schools were posted on the Everyone’s Invited website.

Our helpline is available to support child and adult victims of abuse in schools to make current and non-recent disclosures of abuse or neglect. We’re here if you’re worried about something you’ve seen, if you’re concerned for your child, or a professional looking for advice.

Estimates suggest around one third of all child sexual abuse is carried out by their peers1. Young people can be left feeling angry, upset and confused following sexual assault by classmates. Many children experience shame and guilt, often blaming themselves. The impact can last into adulthood.

Sexual abuse and exploitation is the most common issue reported to our helpline. Incidents range from pupils looking up their classmates’ skirts to sharing images of sex and rape. Parents have also contacted the helpline with concerns that safeguarding incidents have not been appropriately handled in schools.

We’ve launched a dedicated helpline for children and young people who have experienced abuse at school, and for worried adults and professionals that need support and guidance.

Whether it’s happening now or it happened in the past – call Report Abuse on 0800 136 663 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2021/report-abuse-education-helpline/

June 29, 2021

Report Abuse in Education helpline receives hundreds of calls since launching in April

Of these calls, 366 contacts related to sexual abuse and exploitation with references to harmful sexual behaviour and peer abuse.

Of the total contacts, 80 led to a referral to an external agency. Information about the caller was known in 154 contacts and of these, 79 were adult or child victims, 45 were from parents concerned about their child while 56 were female, 18 male and five unknown. It’s been confirmed the helpline will run for a further four months until October.

Commissioned by the Department for Education, our independently run Report Abuse in Education helpline was set up after thousands of testimonies alleging child sexual abuse and harassment in schools were posted on the Everyone’s Invited website.

Our helpline is available to support child and adult victims of abuse in schools to make current and non-recent disclosures of abuse or neglect. We’re here if you’re worried about something you’ve seen, if you’re concerned for your child, or a professional looking for advice.

Estimates suggest around one third of all child sexual abuse is carried out by their peers1. Young people can be left feeling angry, upset and confused following sexual assault by classmates. Many children experience shame and guilt, often blaming themselves. The impact can last into adulthood.

Sexual abuse and exploitation is the most common issue reported to our helpline. Incidents range from pupils looking up their classmates’ skirts to sharing images of sex and rape. Parents have also contacted the helpline with concerns that safeguarding incidents have not been appropriately handled in schools.

We’ve launched a dedicated helpline for children and young people who have experienced abuse at school, and for worried adults and professionals that need support and guidance.

Whether it’s happening now or it happened in the past – call Report Abuse on 0800 136 663 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2021/report-abuse-education-helpline/

June 29, 2021

80% Of Girls Don’t Feel Safe Outside Alone, Reveals New Research – Girlguiding

New research published by Girlguiding, the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women, highlights the shocking scale of sexual harassment experienced by girls and young women both in public and at school, and the impact fear of harassment is having on their lives.

The research comes only a week after Ofsted’s damming report into the high levels of sexual harassment of young people in school, with girls particularly affected. The poll of over 420 girls and young women aged 13 to 18 found the vast majority (80%) don’t feel safe when they go outside on their own. Many are regularly confronted with unwanted attention, including whistling and sexual comments when they do.

Three in ten (29%) girls and young women revealed they first experienced sexual harassment when they were just 11 to 13 years old, with 5% saying they were younger than ten-years-old.

Experiences of sexual harassment that girls and young women aged 13-18 reported in public include:

  • 60% experienced unwanted attention, such as whistling, 19% of all girls said it happens often or most of the time. Girls of colour were more likely to experience unwanted attention (67% compared to 57%) and to experience it more often. LGBQ girls were also more likely to have experienced unwanted attention and more often (72% compared to 57%).
  • 16% experienced unwanted touching on public transport, rising to 30% of those aged 17 and 18.
  • Half (51%)  received unwanted sexual comments directed at them in public (33% of those aged 13 and 14.)
  • Over half (54%) reported feeling uncomfortable or intimidated when out.
  • Six in ten (60%) have experienced intimidation by a group of boys, raising from 46% aged 13 and 14, to 78% for those aged 17 and 18 (50% of whom say this happens often or most of the time). Girls of colour were more likely to experience this most of the time (18% compared to 8% of white girls) and LGBT+ girls were more likely to have experienced intimidation (78% compared to 57% of straight girls).

The fear of sexual harassment is having a negative impact on girls’ and young women’s lives (aged 13 to 18), limiting their freedoms, opportunities and negatively impacting their wellbeing, with the research revealing:

  • Half (50%) avoid going out when it’s dark. This is higher for girls of colour (68%) compared to White girls (46%), and LGBQ girls (63% compared to 47%).
  • 40% avoid going out on their own all together.
  • Two in five (38%) said they feel anxious, worried and scared (increasing to 65% for young women aged 17-18).
  • A third (34%) say it stops them from feeling free to go to the places they want, or they take less convenient routes to feel safer, rising to 53% aged 17-18. This was significantly higher for girls of colour — 50% compared to 30%.
  • A quarter (25%) say it stops them from wearing what they want or means they change their outfits to try and avoid harassment.
  • One in ten girls (11%) believes fear of sexual harassment negatively affects their education, including how much they can concentrate or participate in class.

In school, Girlguiding’s research found an alarming 67% of girls aged 13-18 have experienced sexual harassment from other students. This includes:

  • Taunts and ‘jokes’ of a sexual nature (48%)
  • Sexist or derogatory comments on social media (41%). Girls identifying as LGBT+ are more likely to experience this (62% compared to 37% of girls that identify as heterosexual)
  • Seeing rude or obscene graffiti about girls or women (33%)
  • Unwanted attention or stalking (27%). Girls of colour are more likely to experience this than their white peers (39% compared to 24% of their White peers).
  • Seeing pictures or videos of girls or women that made them feel uncomfortable (26%)
  • Seeing sexually explicit pictures or videos e.g. been shown pornography (24%)
  • Been asked to share an intimate photograph (23%)
  • Unwanted touching e.g. being pinned down, skirt being pulled, bra strap pulled (18%). Significantly more LGBQ girls (32% compared to 15% of heterosexual girls.

The research revealed girls and young women want schools and the government to take sexual harassment more seriously, with 65% wanting a zero-tolerance approach in schools, and 63% wanting better education for everyone about consent and acceptable behaviours. Over half (55%) of girls said they want public sexual harassment to be made a crime.

Two in five (41%) girls aged 13 to 16 and 66% aged 17 and 18 also want to see an improvement to how women are portrayed in the media such as not being so sexualised or objectified.

The research also shows that 57% of all girls and young women believe that reporting sexual harassment should be made easier. Only 35% said they’d know who to talk to if they experienced sexual harassment, and just 27% said they’d feel confident to report it.

Despite the scale of sexual harassment experienced by girls, only 7% aged 13 and 14, 11% aged 15 and 16, and 22% aged 17 and 18 had ever reported it to their school or the police. Of those that had reported sexual harassment, 37% felt happy about the action that was taken, whilst 56% felt unhappy.

Part of a longer press release at https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/our-stories-and-news/news/80-of-girls-dont-feel-safe-outside-alone-with-over-half-receiving-unwanted-sexual-comments-and-attention-reveals-girlguiding-research/

June 21, 2021