The Links Group team were back on the road in what was to prove to be a very busy fortnight, with a number of training events, conferences, other speaking engagements and consultations. We’ll look forward to filling you in on the details over the coming weeks, so keep checking back.
Last week saw the first of 12 events in the second series of the Links Veterinary Training Initiative, in the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s North East region, on recognising and acting on abuse of animals and abuse of people.
We were given a very warm Wetherby welcome from the wonderful team at the Bridge Hotel and Spa, who looked after us so well the evening before and the day of the event.  Huge thank you to Helen O’Kelly and Maurice Kelly, BSAVA stalwarts from the region, for their invaluable help and support before and during the event, and to Maurice for giving us a brief presentation on the role of Vetlife in supporting the veterinary community – particularly important when discussing the sensitive subjects of abuse and non-accidental injury in people and animals.
The regular speakers on this multi-agency UK-wide series includes Dr. Paula Boyden, Links Group Chair; Dr. David Martin, trustee and veterinary forensic expert witness, Jason Fletcher, Principal Prosecution Case Manager at the RSPCA; and Jacqui Kilburn, recently retired Head of Training and Education at Women’s Aid Federation of England.
Joining us for the first time was Jo McKenna, a Domestic Abuse Practice Advisor from the NSPCC Helpline team, who delivered a passionate presentation about the impact of domestic abuse and animal abuse on children.  Natalie Ratcliffe, Cats Protection Lifeline Manager, Yorkshire & East Anglia, gave an overview of the specialist domestic abuse animal fostering services.  We were delighted to have their knowledge and experience in the room, and to have the opportunity to meet them properly, enjoying time in their company the evening before.
South Yorkshire Police force joined us remotely, despite the best efforts of technology to thwart us, with a session on their response to domestic abuse and their work with the RSPCA on placing animal abuse at MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) meetings, where high-risk victim-survivors of domestic abuse protection requirements are discussed.  This presentation was created by Suzanne Jackson MBE, Domestic Abuse Risk Assessor (DARA) Manager, Force Lead for Honour Based Abuse, Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation; and Abbie Thompson, MARAC Manager and lead for DA linked with Animal Abuse.  It was delivered by Abbie due to the tech tantrum, and thanks to them both for their perseverance there!
On this occasion, the group mainly consisted of veterinary team members, particularly veterinarians.  This gave a great mixture of human services and veterinary professional experience in the room, and stimulated some interesting conversations.  We are grateful to our invited guests who joined us from domestic abuse services, academic institutions, local authorities, animal welfare and more.  Thanks also to the many services who wishes to attend but were unable to join us in person, for sending on essential information and resources – we are very grateful that regional vet team members could read and return to their practices to share some of this knowledge.
Thanks again to the venue and staff, those who helped run the day, all our speakers, new and not-so-new, to BSAVA and the Education team for all their tremendous support, and to all delegates and guests for making it a special day.
If you missed us in the North East region, we’ll be running another multi-agency training day in the LVTI series in the East Midlands region.  Please find out more and book here to join us in the Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 3HU, for a day’s CPD (free to BSAVA members, capped at £50 incl. VAT for non-members, BVRA members get in touch!) on Wednesday 12 November 2025.
