Children think about victims (From Echo)

Holy Family RC school children visited by refuge worker

4:40pm Tuesday 30th December 2008 in Search

A VOLUNTEER from a women’s refuge visited a church school to raise awareness of the problems of families hit by domestic violence.

Natasha Jean-Louis, from Basildon Women’s Aid, was welcomed by pupils at Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School, Benfleet.

Headteacher Peter O’Kane said: “At this time of year, most of us are enjoying nice times with our families, but Natasha explained very sensitively quite a few children would find they were forced to run away from home in the middle of the night because of an abusive father. It is very important to remember there are others less fortunate that we can bring joy to at Christmas.”

The school collected food for the refuge during its harvest festival and had also been selling white ribbons in support of the campaign to end domestic violence.

Mr O’Kane said: “It is perceived as a women’s problem, but it also effects males of all ages, too, especially children caught in the middle of it.”