Amity Conference 2026

Thank you to everyone who joined the Amity Conference on Tuesday 14 April, both in Sheffield and online. It was a day that brought together researchers, practitioners, and leaders across children’s services to explore a complex but vital question: how different forms of conflict between parents, from everyday tensions through to domestic abuse, shape children’s mental health, development, and life chances.

Drawing on both current research and frontline experience, the conference explored what we describe as the “silence to violence” spectrum. It looked at how children experience these relationship dynamics, and, importantly, how earlier, more relational forms of support can make a meaningful difference.

Moments from the day

Here are a few snapshots from the conference:

Watch the sessions

If you’d like to revisit the day, or catch up on sessions you missed, you can watch the recordings below:

• Morning sessions

• Afternoon sessions 

You can access all sessions from the day, including:

• Welcome and Introductions – Kate Nicolle and Emily Nickson  

• Lauren Busby, Haven – An introduction to our work  

• Jenny Beck KC (Hon), Director, Beck Fitzgerald – The voice of the child in the family justice system: Reimagining possibility  

• Professor Gordon Harold, University of Cambridge – Understanding how conflict between parents affects children’s mental health and development: Moving from the evidence to evidence-informed practice, plus Q and A  

• Tameside Children’s Services – Amity Relationship Dynamic Assessment Tool: practice in action  

• Judith Rees, For Baby’s Sake – When Harm Hurts: How parental conflict and domestic abuse impact infant wellbeing  

• Sheffield Children’s Services – Our voice of the child journey: practice in action  

• Amity Relationship Dynamics Video

• Amity Relationship Dynamic Assessment Tool (ARDAT) Video

A shared impact

We’re also pleased to share that the conference raised over £1,400 for Haven, supporting children affected by domestic abuse. Haven (House Project) is Sheffield’s only independent charity dedicated to supporting children and young people aged 0–25, and their families. With more than 50 years’ experience, they provide specialist, trauma-informed and needs-led services that are flexible, inclusive, and centred around the voices and experiences of children.

Continuing the conversation

To find out more about the Amity Relationship Dynamic Assessment Tool (ARDAT), visit:https://www.weareamity.co.uk/ardat

The ARDAT framework supports professionals in understanding whether relationship dynamics are more consistent with inter-parental conflict or domestic abuse, helping to inform safer and more effective practice.

If you’d like to learn more about our voice of the child work, training, or any of our other resources, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.