Commissioner Launches new Children and Young People Domestic Abuse service
On Friday 5th November, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall is officially launching a new dedicated service for children and young people affected by domestic abuse at Victim Support’s online event at 10am.
The Children and Young People (CYP) Domestic Abuse service will work with people between 8-18yrs who are victims or witnesses of domestic abuse, with a focus on those who are living in or have experienced domestic abuse in households assessed as at high risk of harm. As every young persons’ needs and risks will vary, the specific support will be structured but tailored to their specific situation by one of the six dedicated caseworkers on the project.
Peter McCall comments: “I am delighted to be officially opening Victims Support’s new service for children and young people affected by domestic abuse, and that so many supporting partners and stakeholders across the county are coming along to listen to the team explain how the service will support them.
“This new service will ensure that those young domestic abuse victims are provided with the tailored support that they need to positively progress with their lives in the community.
“I urge any victim or witness of domestic abuse, regardless of age, to report it to police. We understand it is difficult, but the police are here to help. Your report will be taken seriously and appropriately investigated and we will work hard to bring offenders to justice.”
Talking about the new service, Lee Evans, Area Manager for Victim Support said: “We are absolutely delighted to be launching the start of this much needed service for children and young people affected by domestic abuse in Cumbria.
“Over the past few months Adam Dawson, the team lead, has been busy recruiting and training the new team who will be based across Cumbria. They have developed a whole range of tools and resources that will form the basis of the support and are very excited to be providing an overview of these, and the service more widely, on Friday.
“The harmful impact of domestic abuse cannot be overstated and affects many different aspects of a child’s life and wellbeing in their formative years. This service will provide dedicated support structured around their needs, will assist them to recover and live a life free from the risk of harm.”
Superintendent Dan StQuintin head of Cumbria’s Child Centred Policing teams and the Public Protection Unit said: “The launch of Victim Support’s dedicated service for young people affected by domestic abuse, is a welcomed advancement for the Cumbrian community.
“All young people are vulnerable, and trauma such as domestic abuse, will affect them in varying degrees. Trauma can have life-changing negative effects on a child.
“In Cumbria, we have undertaken considerable research into the effects of childhood trauma on young people. This has resulted in actions including our constabulary achieving the status of a Trauma Informed Organisation, and the implementation of our dedicated Child Centred Policing teams (CCPT), a team focused on supporting young people across Cumbria who are engaging in negative behaviours, often as a result of trauma.
“This vital new service will further ensure that those young domestic abuse victims in our community, are provided with the specialist, tailored support that they need to positively progress with their lives.”
For referral details and more information about the launch event call 0300 3030 157 or contact:
CYPCumbria@victimsupport.org.uk
