- Conference: Wrexham University in conjunction with The Links Group
- Introduction to the Conference
- Day 1 Agenda (all attendees)
- Day 2 Overview
- Day 2 Agenda: Veterinary, Animal Welfare and Policing Stream
- Day 2 Agenda: Human Services and Safeguarding Stream
- Speaker Biographies
- Guidance from The Links Group
- Upcoming Events
Introduction to the Conference
With invited guests from the veterinary professions and the fields of domestic abuse, social work and social care, policing and enforcement. Speakers include:
- Jacqui Kilburn, Domestic abuse consultant (recently retired Head of Training and education, Women’s Aid Federation of England)
- Jason Fletcher, Senior Prosecutions Lawyer, RSPCA
- Dr. Paula Boyden FRCVS, The Links Group Chair
- Dr. Mary Wakeham, CEO & Founder of Refuge4Pets, Links Group Trustee, Research Associate - Bristol University.
- Rebecca Stephens, Associate Professor Social Work, University of Sussex, Links Group Trustee
- Dr. Andrea Lynch, Strategic Delivery Lead, The Links Group
Day 1 Agenda (all attendees)
09.30 - Event Registration 10.00 - Welcome and Introduction Sue/Angela/Kelly/Paula 10.10 - The Links Group – shades of violence and the complexity of abuse. Paula Boyden, The Links Group 10.40 - The ‘Human’ Perspective Animation of an abusive household (Courtesy of Harrow Safeguarding Children Board) 10.55 - Why doesn’t she just leave? The complexity of domestic abuse The challenges of fleeing domestic abuse Jacqui Kilburn, Women’s Aid 11.35 - Coffee 12.00 - Where animals and humans collide Paula Boyden, The Links Group 12.30 - Animal abuse as a strategy of coercive control Dr. Mary Wakeham, The Links Group 13.00 - Lunch 14.00 - Animal welfare and the law Jason Fletcher, RSPCA 14.30 - Protect Animals. Protect People. Mark Randell, International Animal Crime Specialist, Naturewatch (Pre-recorded session) 15.00 - A multi-agency approach/specialist domestic abuse animal fostering services. Rebecca Stephens, Andrea Lynch & Mary Wakeham 15.30 - Questions, discussion, conclusion 16:00 - Close of Day 1
Day 2 Overview
Day 2 will be split into 2 streams:
- Veterinary, Animal Welfare and Policing stream
- Human services professionals / safeguarding professionals stream
Speakers: Veterinary stream
- Dr Paula Boyden FRCVS
- Dr Andrea Lynch MRCVS
- Emily Mills RVN
- Jason Fletcher
Speakers: Human Services / Safeguarding stream
- Jacqui Kilburn
- Rebecca Stephens
- Dr Mary Wakeham
Timings 09.30 – 10.00 Event Registration 10.00 – 13.00 Specialist streams (animal people, people people) End of Conference
Day 2 Agenda: Veterinary, Animal Welfare and Policing Stream
10.00 - Welcome and introduction Paula Boyden 10.05 - Recognising abuse/identifying non-accidental injury (NAI) in animals Paula Boyden and Emily Mills 10.50 - The overlap in human and animal abuse in small animal, farm animal & equine practice Andrea Lynch 11.15 - Coffee 11.35 - Animal welfare prosecutions: responsibilities under the AWA / logistics Jason Fletcher 12.00 - Making the link/grasping the golden moment What can we do in practice? Panel/table practical scenarios & discussions Case examples, “What to when” in practice, what can we do more widely across the sectors, resources. Paula Boyden, Jason Fletcher, Andrea Lynch, Emily Mills 13.00 - Close
Day 2 Agenda: Human Services and Safeguarding Stream
10.00 - Welcome and introduction Rebecca Stephens 10.05 - A lifespan approach to understanding the human-animal bond and the connection to safeguarding Rebecca Stephens, Dr Mary Wakeham, Jacqui Kilburn 10.50 - Identifying animal abuse and other welfare concerns Dr Mary Wakeham, Rebecca Stephens 11.15 - Coffee 11.35 - Responding to suspicions and disclosures of animal abuse Jacqui Kilburn, Rebecca Stephens 12.00 - Developing a human-animal inclusive practice framework Applying theory, knowledge and skills in practice Panel/table practical scenarios, case examples & discussion Rebecca Stephens, Dr Mary Wakeham, Jacqui Kilburn 13.00 - Close
Speaker Biographies
Click on the links
- Dr. Andrea Lynch
- Dr. David Martin
- Emily Mills
- Jacqui Kilburn
- Jason Fletcher
- Mark Randell
- Dr. Mary Wakeham
- Natalie Radcliffe
- Dr. Paula Boyden
- Rebecca Stephens
- Mike Taggart MBE
Guidance from The Links Group
The Links Group offer training to a wide range of professionals to help raise awareness about the link between the abuse of people and animals and how to safeguard all victim-survivors. Everyone is welcome, and the training is particularly relevant to veterinary teams, animal welfare teams and people working in domestic abuse and sexual violence services, police, social workers, health workers, housing teams and more.
Upcoming Events
Credits:
Created with images by Iryna - "Woman hugging rescue dog in animal shelter courtyard, promoting pet adoption and companionship" • Agil - "Young girl with curly hair embracing a tabby cat outdoors in warm golden sunlight, eyes closed, content expression"