NSPCC - Media Centre - Media Briefings - Young witness support services

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Media briefings

Young Witness Support Services

Journalist briefing, May 2006

For a child that has been abused, giving evidence in court can be very distressing. The NSPCC's seven Young Witness Support projects provide an independent and child-focused service that prepares and supports children who may be called to give evidence in a criminal court.
The NSPCC helps children in their role as young witnesses to be more confident and better equipped to give a full and accurate testimony in court and reduces the impact of what can be additionally traumatizing.

NSPCC Young Witness Support workers do not know the details of the evidence, ensuring that the service's involvement does not influence the trial in any way.

Why children need this service

distress in court can mean a child is unable to answer critical questions
courtroom and legal processes can be confusing and intimidating for children who are already distressed
one study has shown that half of the child witnesses surveyed did not understand the words or phrases being used in court¹
more than half were very upset, distressed or angry when in court. A fifth of them said they were crying, feeling sick or sweating²
on average, child witnesses waited for almost a year (11.6 months) before the trial, from the point at which the defendant was charged, despite long-standing government policy to give priority to child abuse or child witness cases.³

About the service

Young Witness Support service workers act on behalf of the child, providing support before, during and after the trial. They may visit the child at home to discuss the overall process, arrange a pre-trial visit to court and attend the trial with the child. The support, advice and preparation provided by a worker greatly reduces the distress experienced by young witnesses and helps them give their evidence as clearly as possible.

Before the trial a Young Witness Support service worker will:

help the child cope with the long wait before the trial and to understand all aspects of giving evidence - such as by video-link or behind a screen
provide the child with materials such as the NSPCC/ChildLine Young Witness Pack, model courtrooms and the NSPCC/ChildLine video, 'Giving Evidence⁴ - what's it really like?'
arrange a pre-trial visit to the courtroom.

During the trial a Young Witness Support service worker will:

sit with the child in the TV link room or near them in the courtroom subject to agreement of the court
stay with the child during breaks in evidence and help them to remain as calm as possible.

After the trial a Young Witness Support service worker will:

help the child and their carers understand what has happened at court, including dealing with any confusing feelings about the outcome of the trial
help children and their carers complete Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) application forms, where appropriate
play a role in referring children to therapeutic treatment services to help them overcome the long-term effects of abuse.

NSPCC Caring for Children in Court Appeal

Noel Edmonds chairs the NSPCC Caring for Children in Court Appeal, which was launched in February 2005 and aims to raise £3.2m to support nearly 900 children a year for five years, through the NSPCC's Young Witness Support services.

1 In their own words: the experiences of 50 young witnesses in criminal proceedings. Plotnikoff and Woolfson. NSPCC. London 2004.
2 In their own words: the experiences of 50 young witnesses in criminal proceedings. Plotnikoff and Woolfson. NSPCC. London 2004.
3 In their own words: the experiences of 50 young witnesses in criminal proceedings. Plotnikoff and Woolfson. NSPCC. London 2004.
4 Funding contributions were made by the Crown Prosecution Service, Department of Health, Home Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department. 'Giving Evidence' is approved by the Judicial Studies Board.