The newly appointed High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, John May CVO OBE DL, has launched a powerful new initiative to shine a spotlight on the needs of young people across the county. Under the banner of ‘Hearing the Young Unheard’, a series of Big Breakfast Conversations is being held throughout April and May 2025.
The third Breakfast in the series will be hosted on 06 May by The Branch Trust in Chipping Norton and will focus on the impact of domestic abuse on young people.
All research studies show that when growing up in an abusive home, there is a significant impact on children’s development, health, and mental wellbeing, which can lead to lower school attendance and attainment, self-harm, antisocial behaviour, and crime. Yet only 29% of the victims and survivors felt that they were able to access the support their children needed.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 legislated that, for the first time in British Law, children were recognised as the victims of domestic abuse in their own right. Between April and September 2024, NSPCC Childline reported a 19% surge in calls from children about domestic abuse. So, what does this mean for young people in Oxfordshire?
Are they being listened to and heard? How are organisations recognising the challenges and working in partnership to support their improved outcomes? This is the conversation that the group of professionals representing voluntary and statutory services, including SAFE!, Oxfordshire Youth, Thames Valley Police, and Riverside Education Trust will be having at The Branch in May.
With the High Sheriff’s backing, this discussion will highlight the significant challenges and trauma that young people affected by domestic abuse endure, and lead to action ensuring that their stories are heard and that they are given the support they deserve to thrive.
Emma Kennedy, CEO, The Branch Trust, commented: “The Branch is passionate about the power of collaborative working – to effect change, we must work together.
“That’s why we are so delighted to be hosting the High Sheriff’s Big Breakfast Conversation this morning: when the twelve organisations represented here this morning share their knowledge and expertise, we can ensure that the voices of young people whose lives are affected by domestic abuse can start to be heard and responded to across Oxfordshire.”
The Branch is a Community Hub, where over 30 programmes are being delivered to those living in and around Chipping Norton, serving the most deprived neighbourhood in West Oxfordshire (IMD2019). The Branch exists to break down barriers, unlock potential, and create opportunities. Their vision is to work with compassion and creativity, seeing the whole person rather than just the problem, and often working with the whole family.
The other Big Breakfast conversations will take place in Thame, Didcot, Oxford, and Banbury, with further ones planned for the Summer and Autumn. Each breakfast will bring together a small group of influential leaders from the public, private, and voluntary sectors, including educators, police, businesspeople, and youth advocates.
The purpose? To encourage honest, action-focused conversations about early intervention, crime prevention, and communities’ role in creating better futures for Oxfordshire’s young people.
“This is about gathering the right people around the table to talk, listen, and act,” said John May. “Too many young voices go unheard in our communities. I want to change that, and I believe these breakfasts can be a catalyst for meaningful, lasting change.”
Each session will be hosted by a different local organisation, providing a real-world lens on the challenges facing young people in their area. The initiative will culminate in The High Sheriff’s Big Conversation Conference in early 2026, where attendees will reconvene to share their progress, celebrate success stories, and forge new collaborations.
