About The Links Group

Increasing research and clinical evidence suggests that there are inter-relationships, commonly referred to as ‘links’, between the abuse of children, vulnerable adults and animals. A better understanding of these links can help to protect victims, both human and animal, and promote their welfare.

The Links Group aims to raise awareness of the ‘links’ to all professionals in the hope that agencies will work together to help prevent related cases from going undetected. As such, the Group is proactively drawing attention to this issue which has, until recently, been under-reported. What’s more, the member organisations are working closely together to suggest ways in which the ‘links’ could be incorporated more fully into overall working practice.

Key achievements of the group to date include:

• More referral between professions

• First successful RSPCA prosecution In Non Accidental Injury

• First successful Scottish SPCA prosecution in Non Accidental Injury

• Veterinary undergraduate training

• The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has added an annexe to the Guide to Professional Conduct providing advice on breaching confidentiality in certain circumstances

• Pet Fostering Services are more widespread

• “Understanding the Links” leaflet giving advice to professionals and available from the NSPCC(www.nspcc.org)

Services for children and families in Brighton & Hove are integrated into a partnership between the city council, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector.

The British Veterinary Association is the national representative body for the veterinary profession with over 11,000 members.
The BVA’s mission is to:
• Represent the veterinary profession
• Help members fulfil their professional roles

The BVA’s main functions are:
• developing and delivering policy affecting the profession
• promoting and protecting the profession in matters proposed by government and other external bodies
• provision of services to members

The BVNA is the UK’s only organisation to represent the interests of Veterinary Nurses (VNs) and veterinary support staff.
Its mission statement is:
“The aim of the British Veterinary Nursing Association is to promote animal health and welfare through the ongoing development of professional excellence in veterinary nursing”.

Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest canine welfare charity probably best known for their strapline ‘A Dog is for life not just for Christmas’. The charity re-homes 16,000 dogs a year and provides a fostering service for dogs belonging to women fleeing domestic violence in Greater London and Yorkshire.

MSD Animal Health is one of the largest animal health companies in the country renowned for researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing products for the prevention and treatment of health problems in a variety of animals.

MSD Animal Health is an integral member of the Links Group, but its own initiative, Forging the Link, is proving very rewarding in raising awareness of the links between child abuse, animal abuse and domestic violence amongst the veterinary profession.

The GLDVP is a second tier service for the domestic violence sector. We aim to increase safety for survivors of domestic violence and to hold abusers accountable for their behaviour. We work to strengthen the sector by identification of common goals, promoting joint planning between agencies, disseminating good practice and increasing the effectiveness of partnership work.

Kirklees Primary Care Trust is an NHS organisation which commissions a broad range of health services in order to meet the health needs of local people. Kirklees is a large area in West Yorkshire with a population of just over 400,000 and is made up of seven localities in Huddersfield North, Huddersfield South, Spen, Dewsbury and Mirfield, Batley, Birstall and Birkenshaw.

The National Animal Welfare Trust is one of the UK’s largest animal welfare charities. The NAWT was established in 1971 and operates four re-homing centres across the south of England. It is our aim to find suitable and loving homes for all the animals in our care. As well as dogs and cats, our re-homing centres care for a wide range of animals from pigs to ponies and alpacas.

The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) is the UK's leading charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The NSPCC's mission is to end cruelty to children. FULL STOP. Its vision is a society in which all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. In other words, a society that will not tolerate child abuse – whether sexual, physical, emotional or neglect.

Paws for Kids aims to help relieve the pressure on families escaping/recovering from domestic violence by providing medium/long term support
This work includes:
• A pet fostering service for all family pets, giving women and children escaping domestic violence direct access to emergency accommodation.

• A child centred service to help reduce the long-term effects of witnessing or experiencing domestic violence and abuse, using animals to promote caring and responsible values.

• A woman centred service to assist mothers with emotional recovery and the development of the relationship and emotional skills needed to support their children/teenagers.

PDSA is the UK's leading veterinary charity. We exist to care for the pets of people in need by providing free veterinary care to their sick and injured pets and promoting responsible pet ownership. To find out more please visit our website www.pdsa.org.uk or freephone 0800 9172509.

Refuge provides safe, emergency accommodation through a growing network of refuges
throughout the country and runs the National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline, in
partnership with Women’s Aid.

Along with services for children, Refuge offers individual and group counselling and IDVAs (independent domestic violence advocate) and community-based outreach services for women, including specialist services for minority ethnic communities. Refuge also runs award-winning media and advertising
campaigns to raise public awareness, while campaigning and lobbying for better provision for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

The RSPCA as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness and alleviate suffering to all animals.

This will be achieved by effecting strong branch, regional, national and international operations dedicated to providing a public service, delivering effective relief of animal suffering and enforcing the law.

SCAS is a UK-based charity dedicated to understanding how interactions between people and companion animals can improve quality of life and well-being. A growing body of scientific opinion recognises that pets play an important role in promoting human health, particularly for vulnerable or marginalized groups in society. SCAS works to bring this information to the general public and people working within different professions, in order to positively influence understanding, policy and practice. SCAS provides information, education and training on many aspects of the human-companion animal bond through publications, conferences, training courses, research, a resource library and provision of expert opinion.

The vision of Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) is a world in which women and girls achieve economic equality and are able to live their lives free of abuse and exploitation. The SEA website pulls together useful resources on responding to the negative impact of violence against women and girls in relation to financial well-being, employment and housing.

The Blue Cross is a registered UK animal welfare charity. Our aims are to ensure the welfare of animals by providing practical care, highlighting the benefits of companionship between animals and people and promoting a sense of respect and responsibility towards animals in the community. We provide support to the nation's pets and their owners by treating pets whose owners cannot afford private veterinary treatment, finding permanent homes for unwanted or abandoned animals and educating the public in responsible animal ownership.

Established in 1886, The Mayhew Animal Home believes that education is the key to a world without abused or unwanted companion animals. Our charity works with people and animals to alleviate the causes, as well as the effects of animal cruelty and neglect. As one of the busiest animal sanctuaries in London, we find new homes for thousands of animals each year, provide animal welfare and educational support to our local community, and assist our sister organisations both nationally and internationally, all through the generous support of the general public.

Wood Green Animal Shelters is a national Charity that takes in and finds wonderful new homes for thousands of animals each year. The Charity prides itself on the first class care that it provides all of the animals that it cares for and has set national standards in animal welfare.