Contributing to a Better Future for Victims and Survivors – The PEACE IV VS Research Programme

1. Contributing to a Better Future for Victims and Survivors – The PEACE IV VS Research Programme Neil Foster, Commission for Victims and Survivors 18 June 2019 Address: 4th Floor Equality House 7-9 Shaftesbury Square Belfast BT2 7DP Tel: 028 9031 1000 Email: commission@cvsni.org Web: www.cvsni.org Twitter: @nivictimscom

2. Research Programme Background & Context • Overview of the 3 Research Studies • Contribution to Building a Better Future • Overview

3. Element of £13.4m VS Programme (2017-21) funded by the EU PEACE IV Programme – VS Service as Lead Partner • Other elements of the PEACE IV VS Programme: • Health and Wellbeing Caseworker Network • Advocacy Support Network • Resilience Programme addressing mental health and emotional health needs of victims and survivors • Capacity building training and development programme among community based victims organisations • Overall objective: 'improve HWB of VS' - focus on targeting hard to reach and marginalised individuals and communities affected by the legacy of the Conflict/Troubles • PEACE IV VS Research Programme

4. 3 separate but interrelated research studies: • Review of Trauma Services (2018-20) (QUB) • Trans-generational Legacy and Young People (2018-20) (QUB) • Effective Advocacy Services (2019-20) (UU) • Collective ambition of building a better future for victims and survivors at an individual and wider societal/community level: • Individual/family level: enhancing access to high quality trauma-focussed psychological therapies and Advocacy services • Community/Societal: recognising and supporting measures to address outstanding conflict-legacy issues including the trans-generational impact on children and young people • PEACE IV VS Research Programme

5. 1969-98: Intense levels of political violence had a significant impact on a relatively small population • 34,000 shootings, 14,000 bombings, 16,000 charged with offences • 3,720+ deaths; 40,000 physically injured including 1,000 severely injured; 200,000 with range of trauma-related mental health issues • Few individuals, families, communities in NI have not been directly or indirectly affected by the conflict and it’s legacy • Conflict’s legacy continues to impact the lives of many people in NI • 2017: 26% of the NI population reported they / family members continue to be affected by the conflict’s legacy; 6% psychologically affected; 3% physically injured • 1998-2018: 158 have lost their lives in 'security related killings' associated with paramilitarism • Impact of Conflict / Troubles

6. VS Strategy 2009-19 • Focus on ensuring BFF work is integrated within Dealing with the Past and Services (development & delivery) • Collective aim of 'assisting VS to contribute to building a shared and better future' • Mid-Term Review of the Strategy (2017) • DWP and timely access to high quality services linked with broader ambition of building a better future for VS and wider society in NI (and Border Region of Ireland) • Cross-government commitment required to reduce impact of conflict-legacy issues on VS and wider society in NI • Defining Building for the Future

7. BFF work recognises that Troubles/Conflict mental health legacy cannot be address in isolation but requires a long-term strategic plan • Providing timely and effective access to evidence-based treatment and support to victims and survivors while comprehensively tackling outstanding legacy issues: • Paramilitarism • Segregation / Sectarianism • Dealing with the Past (historical investigation and info recovery) • Trans-generational impact of the conflict’s legacy including on CYP • Defining Building for the Future

8. Trauma Services Research Project (PEACE IV) (2018-20) (QUB) • Examining clinical impact of psych therapy services for VS in NI & BRoI • Improve access to evidence-based practice in the treatment of individual and family based conflict-related trauma • Improving capacity and quality of care for VS • Timely in context of development of new Regional Trauma Network • Contribution to BFF • Support access to enhance psychological trauma services in the stat/non-stat sectors and help reduce levels of trauma at an individual, family and community level • HIIR: access to trauma-focussed interventions can help families deal with the emotional trauma going through current/future inquests / historical police investigations • Victims of paramilitary style attacks and those bereaved by paramilitary related deaths can benefit from the findings of the study • Research Studies

9. TG Legacy & YP Research Project (PEACE IV) (2018-20) (QUB) • Qualitative study investigating the trans-generational impact of the conflict’s legacy on young people and their parents throughout NI and the BRoI • Engaging directly with cohorts of young people and their families in urban and rural areas and community-based youth workers and other relevant stakeholders • Analyse changing attitudes, perceptions and behaviours re future impact of conflict-legacy issues – 3 key areas: education, family and community life. • Identifying experiences and needs of current generation of children and young people affected by the Conflict’s legacy and their relationships with older generations who experienced the Conflict. • Contribution to BFF • Advance knowledge re enduring TG affect of legacy from cross-gen perspective • Strengthen existing dept strategies e.g. T:BUC / TPP • Research Studies

10. Advocacy Services Research Project (PEACE IV) (2019-20) (Ulster University) • Examine effectiveness of advocacy services for VS/families in NI/BRoI accessing support in area of historical investigation and information recovery • Timely opportunity to explore psychosocial impact of the legacy on VS in context of implementing the SHA • Capture transgenerational impact on families in their pursuit of truth, justice and acknowledgment relating to their conflict-related experiences • Interviews, focus groups, case studies with individuals/families across NI/BRoI/GB • Contribution to BFF • Study findings can contribute to a victim-centred approach to DWP against background of establishing new HIIR processes and agencies • Strengthen provision of advocacy and health & wellbeing services to VS provided through the Adv Support Network & HWB Caseworker Network. • Research Studies

11. 2019-2020: Timely opportunity to learn about the impact of the conflict’s legacy on wellbeing of VS and their families in NI and BRoI • Context of progressing implementation of the SHA • Ongoing threat from paramilitarism • Political uncertainty linked to Brexit • Research programme will inform the future design and delivery of services for VS and their families in areas of psychological trauma including the Regional Trauma Network & in the area of HIIR • Contribute to BFF at individual and societal levels – strengthen existing programmes to tackle legacy issues including paramilitarism and sectarianism – reducing the enduring cost of legacy on VS and wider population in NI and BRoI • Summary

12. Research Projects complete in December 2020 • For further info contact neil.foster@cvsni.org • Thanks! • Summary