# Harnessing RSPCA Stakeholder Expertise to Co-Produce a Complex Intervention Addressing Childhood and Adolescent Animal Harm

## TL;DR

This study updates a program to prevent animal harm by young people by incorporating stakeholder feedback and modern challenges.

## Contribution

The study co-produces an improved intervention with RSPCA stakeholders, focusing on modernizing content and accessibility.

## Key findings

- Two primary target groups identified: primary school children and high-risk youth.
- Participants recommended retaining core topics while updating resources for modern challenges and accessibility.
- Face-to-face delivery is preferred, supported by digital resources and stakeholder evaluation.

## Abstract

Animal harm during childhood and adolescence can be influenced by various personal and social factors. This study worked with RSPCA staff to update and improve the ‘Breaking the Chain’ programme, which aims to prevent animal harm by young people. Interviews with 16 RSPCA employees suggested the programme target two main groups, primary school children and high-risk youth, with a preference for in-person school sessions supported by online resources. Participants favoured keeping the programme’s core topics of sentience and animal welfare, appropriate behaviours, and triggers and consequences of animal harm, while updating resources to address modern challenges such as online animal harm and peer pressure, and ensuring the content is accessible for children with different learning needs, including neurodiverse children. Evaluating the programme’s short-term and long-term success is key. The next steps include involving young people in the programme’s development and addressing practical challenges like referral systems and programme delivery.

Childhood and Adolescent Animal Harm (CAAH) is influenced by biological, psychological and socio-environmental risk factors. Interventions to prevent animal harm among children and young people are essential for fostering empathy and reducing future harm. This study explores the perspectives of RSPCA stakeholders, to co-produce a redeveloped version of ‘Breaking the Chain’, an intervention addressing youth animal harm. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 RSPCA employees across a range of departments and geographical locations in England, UK. Thematic analysis was used to identify key insights on target groups, intervention content, delivery methods, and evaluation strategies. Two primary target groups were identified: universal audiences (primary school-aged children) and high-risk youth. Participants advocated for retaining the core content of the existing intervention while modernising resources to address contemporary risk factors, such as online exposure to animal harm while ensuring accessibility for neurodiverse audiences. Face-to-face delivery was favoured, complemented by digital resources. Evaluation was viewed as critical, with a focus on both short-term outcomes and long-term impact. This study highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement in co-producing effective cruelty prevention interventions. Future steps will involve a coproduction study with children and young people to gather their perspectives on the intervention redesign. This will be followed by a pilot and evaluation of the redesigned intervention, incorporating feedback from both the implementers (e.g., teachers, youth offending teams, RSPCA employees) and the recipients (children and young people).