Abstract

The experience of victimization often leaves a child or young person frightened, lacking in confidence, or emotionally vulnerable and they can turn to crime in response to being a victim. Coming to terms with what happened and understanding their feelings and reactions is therefore vital to a full recovery.

Why Me? is a programme designed to help children and young people recover from the experience of victimization, through use of exercises, activities and a DVD. These explore the young person's feelings both when they were victimized and afterwards, their needs, their personal strengths and encourage them to think about their support network. Activities include drawing, making graphs, writing letters, and thinking about how the children feel about what happened and their recovery. The book also includes guidance for adults working with young people and case examples that demonstrate how best to use the programme. The DVD contains real-life stories of young people who have been victimized and supports the exercises in the book.

Why Me? is an essential resource for any adult who may encounter a child or young person who has been victimized, including social workers, youth workers, teachers, police, education welfare officers and victim support and witness service workers.

This resource effectively promotes Protective Behaviours - an approach to personal safety and protection from abuse, crime and bullying - as a process which is life enhancing, giving people the strategies to keep themselves feeling safe.
Maria Huffer, Service and Development Coordinator, Protective Behaviours UK
It is clear that we need to do more to help children who have been victims of crime. This book will enable people to do exactly that – help people get started with some tried and tested advice and techniques to help young victims.
Sara Payne, Victims' Champion