Young people are being taught vital messages about domestic violence and abuse thanks to Dumbarton District Women’s Aid in a bid to help eradicate it from society.

The organisation works tirelessly all year round with children and young people in West Dunbartonshire to talk with them about the effects of abusive relationships.

Pupils from Vale of Leven Academy and Our Lady and St Patrick’s high school took part in various events with staff at the Dumbarton-based refuge – which provides assistance and temporary homes to women and children fleeing domestic violence in the region.

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Dedicated children and young persons workers tackled tough subjects with S1 to S6 students ranging from gender equality issues, signs of domestic abuse and recognising healthy relationships.

And they were such a success that the organisation is hoping to reach out to all secondary and primary schools in the authority area.

Liz Gillespie, of Dumbarton District Women’s Aid, said: “We need to start talking to kids about these things and we are so happy with the response we have had from schools so far.

“The younger you start to speak to kids about this the better.

“Obviously we have to tailor what we say to younger people but in secondary school we are keen to give as much information as possible.

“We like to talk to them about gender equality and healthy relationships and what they think it all means.

“We also work with teachers as well to help them identify signs of anything going on in families.”

Pupils at Vale of Leven Academy completed a pilot programme created by the women’s refuge charity, while S1 to S6 OLSP pupils attended at special assemblies to provide them with useful information on domestic abuse.

Thanks to a vital funding boost from the Scottish Government, the charity was able to employ two full-time members of staff to work directly with young people in these lessons.

Through this, they hoped to gain knowledge on young people’s understanding of domestic abuse and help educate them on how it can affect them.

The programme also focused on different types of domestic abuse, including coercive control, how to identify an abusive relationship and how and where to get help and support.

Liz continued: “Some of the feedback we got was that young people didn’t know domestic abuse could happen to them.

“It helps them look at their relationships from a young age and think about how their partner or they might be behaving.

“It allows them to identify whether the way they or another person might be acting is acceptable or not.

“We also wanted them to know what they could do and where they could get support.”

The programmes were also hailed a success by teachers at the two secondary schools.

OLSP head teacher, Christopher Smith, said: “The presentations were very well received by all of our young people and allowed them to become more aware of the challenges faced by a significant number of people from their own communities.

“We will continue to work to support our children and young people to be effective citizens who have respect for themselves and others, and learning about domestic abuse is a valuable and relevant part of this.”

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Principal teacher of pastoral care at Vale of Leven Academy, Pamela Ross, said: “It is so important that young people are taught about what makes a healthy relationship as often they have little or no understanding.

“Home life helps inform many young peoples’ views and opinions. We recognise some of our children and young people have experience of witnessing unhealthy relationships so these sessions were important to ensure our pupils are aware and can recognise the signs when a relationship becomes abusive, and know what to do to
help.”

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