Facing Up to Domestic Violence
The first 'Face Up To It' conference to reduce the negative
impact that domestic violence has on children has been held in
St.Helens.
A range of agencies came together to deliver the programme
including St.Helens Council, Helena Housing. Health and Your
Housing.
This included a range of key speakers, a pupil performance
from St.Cuthbert's High School, interactive discussions and
research workshops.
Domestic Abuse affects about quarter of children and young
people in schools today, either within their own relationships or
within their homes. Domestic Abuse potentially has an impact
on school performance, absence from school and behavioural
problems, yet for many, school remains a safe and happier place for
the child or young person.
In St Helens there are over 4,000 calls of Domestic Abuse
reported to the Police every year. Your Housing Group, sourced
funding for an interactive "face Up" CD Rom which explores the
world of teenage relationships and helps them to identify healthy
and unhealthy characteristics. Following on from the conference,
the school teams have been able to take this resource back to
school for implementation within the Personal, Social and Health
Education curriculum and beyond.
This was the first time that a partnership has come together to
deliver such a conference which was attended by 80 per cent of the
secondary schools in St.Helens. The young people who attended have
now developed an individual plan which they have agreed to take
back to their schools to ensure that they can send out a clear
message about the importance of a healthy and positive
relationship.