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REFUGES FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND
Appendix E: Topic Guide for Interviews with Children
1. Moving In/Expectations
How long have you been staying here for? Have you ever stayed in this/another refuge before? How many times? When was that?
How did you feel about leaving home? How did you feel about coming here to live? Did your brothers/sisters feel the same way?
Before you arrived what did you think it would be like? Were you told anything about the refuge before you moved in? Was there anything in particular you were worried about/anything you were hoping for/was important to you? Were you able to bring your things/pets to the refuge?
What did you think when you first got here? Was there anything that you were surprised/pleased/disappointed about you when you first arrived?
Could anything have made moving in here easier/better for you?
2. Experiences
How do you feel living here now? What are the best/worst things about living in the refuge? Is there anything in particular you would want to change? Is it the same/different as other refuges you've stayed in?
Is there anything you could do at home that can't do here (or vice versa)?
How do you think your mum/brothers/sisters feel about living here?
What's it like sharing a house with other families? Do you like having them around or would it be better to live just with your mum/brothers and sisters?
What's your room/flat like? Best/worst thing about it? Is it big/nice/clean/quiet enough?
What's it like sharing a room with your mum/ brothers and sisters? (probe - safety/security, sleeping, changing) Do you have anywhere to go if you want to be on your own? Is there space for your things?
Do you share bathroom/livingroom/kitchen with other families? How do you feel about that? Are these shared places big/clean/nice/quiet enough?
How/where do you play/hang out? Who with?
What services are there for children/yp here? Are there children's/yp workers here? How much time do you spend with them? Is that enough/too much? What are they like? What do they do? What do you think of the play sessions/trips/one-to-one sessions? What do you think about the other staff?
Is there a children's/yp room(s)? What's it like? Is it big/nice/clean enough? How much time do you spend there? What do you do there? What toys/games/facilities are in there? Are there enough things for children/yp your age? Is there anything else you would like/prefer for children/yp in the refuge?
Do you have anywhere to play outside? What's that like?
Do children/yp get a say in things around here? What sort of things? Would you like a say in anything else?
How do the children/yp get on in here? Is that always the case? Does it depend on what age you are/ whether boy or girl? Do they help/play with each other? Do they upset/annoy each other? How could they be helped to get on better? What do your brothers/sisters think?
3. Impact on Other Aspects of Life
Have you been to school since you came here? Is it your old school or a new one? How do you feel about that/has it causes you any problems/have you settled? Has your attendance/schoolwork been affected by living here? Why? What would help you with this?
Have you kept in touch with your friends since moving in here? How do you feel about that? Have you made other friends? Do your friends know where you live/how would you feel about them knowing?
Have you kept in touch with your grandparents/other relatives since moving here? How do you feel about that?
How have you been/ how has your health been since you've been living here?
4. Moving On
Do you know how long you will be living here/where you will live next? Has anyone talked to you about this? Have you had a say in what will happen next/would you like one?
Would you like to keep in touch with any of the families/children/workers from here when you leave the refuge? Why/why not?
5. Priorities
Are you glad your mum brought your family to live at the refuge or do you wish she had found somewhere else for you all to go?
Are refuges like this a good or bad place for children/yp to live in? Why? Does it matter if you are a boy or girl/ older or younger?
What would make the refuge a better place for new young person if they were to move in (probe - more staff or facilities/equipment or space/rooms) ? What would make it a better place for your mum/other mums?
The Government is planning to spend some money on new refuges/improving refuges. Is this a good idea? What type of refuges should they spend the money on? (probe - shared house (with only bedroom or ensuite; sharing kitchen and/or bathroom and/or livingroom); own flat in WA close; own (dispersed) flat or house). Are communal areas (children's rooms/other communal space) a good idea even if don't have to share facilities?
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