This week…
When the System is Meant to Protect Child Victims of Domestic Abuse
With..
Luke Appleyard
What happens when the systems designed to protect vulnerable children fail to keep them safe?
On this powerful episode of All Things Conflict, Maria Arpa is joined by Luke Appleyard, who shares his deeply personal experience of growing up surrounded by domestic violence, fear and a complete lack of safety.
Luke speaks candidly about witnessing horrific abuse as a child, escaping to a safe house, and the fear of being found again. He also describes what he believes were failures within the systems that were supposed to protect him and his family.
But the impact didn’t end when childhood did.
Luke explains how years of unprocessed trauma followed him into adulthood, contributing to serious mental health struggles, breakdowns, difficulties associated with neurodivergence and periods of suicidal thinking.
His story also highlights an issue that is too often overlooked: male victims of domestic abuse.
Where can men and boys go when they are frightened, traumatised and need somewhere safe? Luke discusses the urgent need for greater support and refuge provision for male victims — and for society to move beyond the idea that men should simply “tough it out.”
Perhaps most importantly, this conversation is about listening.
Too often, vulnerable people are reduced to case numbers, forms and statistics. What they need first is to be heard, believed and treated as human beings.
Luke’s story is painful, but sharing it can help break the silence for others who have spent years believing they are alone.
Children deserve to be heard. Victims deserve to be safe. And everyone deserves the chance to be treated with humanity.
Watch the latest episode of All Things Conflict and tell me what you think in the comments.
I would genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
🎙️ Listen to the full episode of All Things Conflict and hear bold ideas for redesigning our justice system, from tackling the court backlog and transforming prisons to putting lived experience at the heart of justice.
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