16 Days of Action 2020 - Raising awareness of domestic abuse and young people

Each year Gloucestershire participates in the International 16 days of action against gender-based violence; starting on the 25th November (International day for the elimination of violence against women) and ending on 10th December (Human rights day).

For 2020, Gloucestershire will be raising awareness of domestic abuse amongst young people and child to parent violence.

Key themes and messages:

• Young people experience abuse in their own relationships and there is support available locally.
• What is a healthy relationship? Helping young people identify the signs and seek support
• How to help a friend who might be experiencing abuse in their teenage relationship
• How parents can identify the signs and what they can do to support their young person
• What is child to parent violence and where to seek support.
• The role of professionals in identifying and responding to teenage relationship abuse and child to parent violence.

To read lots more information about 16 Days of Action, please CLICK HERE

STREET introduces new online referral form
Referrals to the ‘Safe Teenage Relationship Education & Empowerment Team’ (STREET) can now be made online.

STREET Gloucestershire, which supports young people aged 13-19 years who have been affected by domestic abuse or teenage relationship abuse, are launching a new online referral form. From today, referrals can be made using an online form on the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Services (GDASS) website. This replaces the current paper form creating a single service pathway into the service and making it easier and more efficient for those completing it. You can access the new referral form here.

How do I refer to STREET Gloucestershire?

Anyone concerned about a young person who has been affected by domestic abuse, or by abuse in a teen relationship, can make a referral by filling in the online form on the GDASS website – www.gdass.org.uk/contact

To read more on this, please CLICK HERE

Get in touch

For further information please contact: rebecca.twydell@wmwa.org.uk or call the STREET information line on 01452 726 584.

You can follow STREET on Instagram and Facebook.

Online Sexual Harm Reduction Guides

There has been a national increase in online exploitation of children. The Marie Collins Foundation (MCF) and the NWG Network have joined forces to produce two new help guides aimed at reducing online harm, one for professionals and one for parents and carers working with issues of online sexual harm and young people.

The Online Sexual Harm Reduction Guide is aimed at professionals; How Can I Help My Child? Is aimed at parents and carers.

The Prevention programme

The Prevention programme is concerned regarding the national lockdown's potential impact on the exploitation and abuse of children and young people.

During phase one of Covid-19 we saw an increase in online grooming into both Child Sexual Abuse and Child Criminal Exploitation and an increase in domestic abuse. We were also concerned that children experiencing abuse at home may have been shut in with their abusers and unable to access support.

These concerns have not gone away and as we return to lockdown we have collated a range of resources and support contacts for professionals, parents, key workers and others both working with children or entering the family home at this time. Please circulate these as widely as possible through your networks.

The Prevention programme will continue to support partners in responding to child exploitation and abuse across England and Wales at this time. If you think you might benefit from the programme’s support please get in touch with The Children's Society

For more on the Prevention programme CLICK HERE

Black and Asian family COVID-19 helpline and webchat facility:

Barnado’s has established a Black and Asian family COVID-19 helpline and webchat facility, encouraging children, young people and families from these communities who have been impacted by COVID-19 to speak about their worries and stresses. It provides therapeutic support, as well as signposting to other organisations who can provide further help.