Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is today (Tuesday 1 December 2020) launching a new web chat support service specifically for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. It is the first dedicated, national web chat service in Scotland specifically for young people who have experienced domestic abuse and it will be staffed by the specially trained workers who currently run the equivalent service for adult survivors of domestic abuse and forced marriage.
The new web chat will support children who are experiencing domestic abuse at home, as well as those young people who experience abuse in their own relationships. The innovative new service has been funded by the National Emergencies Trust and was developed in partnership with children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse themselves. Twenty-five young people from across Scotland, supported by local Women’s Aid groups, advised on the design, operating hours and publicity materials for the new web chat. The service will operate between 5.00pm and 10.00pm daily, and will be available for young people across the whole of Scotland. This pilot project will run for four months initially, with the hope to develop it further after evaluation of the trial.
The posters are attached here and we would really appreciate you sharing these with all your local schools and organisations. There are two posters, one aimed at younger children (primary schools) and one aimed at older children and young people (Secondary schools/colleges).