Posted on 12th Mar
Mansfield youngsters are to benefit from a project aimed at helping schoolchildren who may be experiencing the effects of domestic abuse.
Mansfield Community Partnership has successfully bid for £4,875 from Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner to work in partnership with domestic abuse charity Equation on a project to be offered to local primary schools as they return following the Covid-19 national lockdown.
The charity’s GREAT (Good Relationships are Equal and Trusting) project promotes the importance of healthy relationships and raises domestic abuse awareness to Year 5 and 6 pupils.
Part of the project also highlights what help is available for children experiencing the effects of domestic abuse and how to access that support. Teachers will also benefit from Equation training sessions, too.
Coun Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for safer communities, housing and wellbeing, said: “The rate of domestic abuse in Mansfield remains among the highest in the county and this has been amplified during the pandemic restrictions.
“The council has been working with Notts Police and other agencies, such as Women’s Aid and NIDAS, to help tackle and reduce this problem. This latest scheme with Equation we hope will help our younger citizens, who can suffer enormous harm and long term emotional and psychological damage from being exposed to domestic abuse and violence.”
Equation estimates that at least one child in every classroom will be experiencing the effects of domestic abuse at home.
Anthea Tainton, head of service for children and young people, from Equation, said: “We hope the scheme in Mansfield will support schools and their staff to have increased awareness of domestic abuse and the devastating impacts on children.
“Schools utilising Equation’s resources will be able to identify and support children to understand their experiences and access further support from specialist organisations. We hope this will enable children to increase their resilience, use positive coping strategies and go on to form happy healthy relationships in the future.”
Anyone in Mansfield who is experiencing domestic abuse can call Juno Women’s Aid on 0800 800 0340, Equation Men’s Helpline on 0115 960 5556 or Childline on 0800 1111 for help and support. There is also help available for those who perpetrate domestic abuse on 0808 8024040 or see https://www.respect.uk.
For more information about Equation, see https://equation.org.uk.
