Efforts to fill "gaps in services" for young people affect by domestic abuse in Sheffield
There are new efforts to try and address a "significant lack of support" for young people being affected by domestic abuse in Sheffield.
There are fresh efforts to help protect young people in Sheffield from the damaging effects of domestic abuse, after a report found a "significant lack of support".
Last year we exclusively reported on research by from YWAVE, the Young Women Against Violence Empowered project which called for more preventative work on domestic abuse with young people in Sheffield.
Now charity Sheffield Futures have used findings of the report to secure government funding for a new domestic abuse service, including sessions in schools and the training of professionals to deal with those affected
Louise Ellison's from the charity - she says domestic abuse can have a huge impact on young people:
"That young person becomes isolated, they'll have a change in their character, they'll lose their confidence, so this project is about building resilience for young people - getting them to know what an abusive relationship is and how we can support them in making positive changes to their life."
"I think it's a massive issue - I think it's important not just for young people but for adults as well to know what a healthy relationship is and a positive relationship. It's important across the board that young people understand their worth and what they can contribute, not just to Sheffield, but to society in general."
The new service will support young people who may be at risk of entering an abusive relationship - or those who may witness it at home.
Louise says they're seeing lots of young people needing their help with it:
"We find that what a young person gets referred into the service for may be around anti-social behaviour in the community but when we've done a thorough assessment we unpick that these young people have got a lot of complex family needs."
"It could be inter-generational domestic abuse or they've experienced their mum or dad being a victim of domestic abuse and they think that's the norm for a relationship - and it's trying to break down that cycle as well which hopefully this project will do. There are things around mental health issues - we've got access to a primary mental health worker that can support us as an organisation supporting young people."