Communities and Culture Committee

Scrutiny Inquiry : Domestic Abuse

Response from Domestic Abuse Information Project, Children and Young People Services, Community Regeneration, Swansea

Since March 2008, the City and County of Swansea has employed a worker to address the issue of domestic abuse and its impact upon children and young people. The 25 hours-per-week post is based in Info-Nation*, a dynamic and vibrant young person’s information centre, in the centre of Swansea which sees upwards of 22,000 visits by young people coming through the doors each year to access information, advice and support across a range of topics.

The post was identified and funded within the Swansea Domestic Abuse Strategy, which specifically highlighted the need to develop work that addressed both the needs and attitudes of children and young people in relation to domestic abuse.

* Info Nation is a shop-front at 47 The Kingsway, Swansea. It provides a range of information services to young people in the 11-25 age-range as a facility within Children and Young People Services in the Regeneration Directorate of Swansea Council. Funding for this work on Domestic Abuse is £30,000 each year, allocated through the Local Authority.

The project covers two areas of work:

Prevention and Awareness Rising

The primary focus of the project is to raise young people’s awareness of the issues around domestic abuse. This will be achieved through work with schools and organisations that work with children and young people.

The Domestic Abuse Worker will offer educative sessions designed to compliment Key Stages 2-4 of the PSE curriculum within key themes of health and emotional wellbeing and moral and spiritual development, including: safe and healthy relationships, rights responsibilities and respect at home and in relationships, attitudes towards abusive behaviours, sexual exploitation, bullying in the home, personal safety, accessing help and support.

Staff working with children and young people will have the opportunity to access training and support to address issues of domestic abuse in their work environment, including: awareness of issues surrounding domestic abuse for children and young people, running sessions with young people, recognising and providing services for 'at risk’ young people, how to refer on to other agencies.

Additional awareness raising will be achieved by joining in with local events for young people, contributing to information displays throughout the county and creating a website for young people. National and international awareness days will also be supported by the project.

Information and Support:

Info-Nation will provide a weekly drop-in session which young people can access to discuss issues surrounding abusive relationships, whether they are experiencing them directly or witnessing them at home/within peer relationships. The worker will seek to determine the needs of the young people and help them to engage with appropriate services if necessary.

Info-Nation will host a resource library on issues surrounding domestic abuse which can be accessed by young people and professionals. Some of these resources, including an information leaflet and website will be developed in consultation with young people accessing the project.

Info-Nation is leading on a Children and Young People Service (CYPS) response as one of number of organisations working to address the issues around Domestic Abuse. Info-Nation is committed to working in partnership with other agencies and local authority departments in order to further this work.

For further details about the Domestic Abuse Project contact:

Andy Edwards, Youth Information Services Manager,
Canoldre Centre, Jockey Street, Swansea. SA1 1NS
Tel: 01792 483184