New safety sessions tackle overlooked issue of teenage relationship abuse

A pioneering project funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews is tackling the hidden issue of teenage relationship abuse to prevent harm.

Teenage relationship abuse is an under-funded and resourced area despite its high prevalence, falling between child protection and domestic abuse support provision.

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC is determined to address the issue and increase understanding about the risks as part of his Police and Crime Plan priority to prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and tackle Violence and Vulnerability.

He has provided funding to The Go-Getta and H.O.P.E Training & Consultancy for its Teenage Relationship Abuse (TRA) Project to raise awareness and improve responses to abuse within teenage relationships in New Parks.

Building on successful work in Leicester City and Charnwood, the community-based initiative delivers bespoke education and training workshops to professionals, parents, carers and young people, covering the nature of TRA, effective support strategies, risk identification and local support pathways.

The sessions also raise awareness of emerging risks including online harms, AI-enabled abuse, deepfakes, online coercion and sextortion

Through the Commissioner’s funding, two training sessions for professionals working with young people are being delivered in the New Parks area and two awareness support sessions for parents and carers.

Additionally, three young peer mentors from New Parks are being recruited to support delivery of the project and will contribute to a growing a growing network of youth voice ambassadors to work alongside partners on wider community projects and deliver social action and arts-based initiatives.

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “Teenage relationship abuse is a real problem. Worrying new research by the Youth Endowment Fund found 49% of teenagers who had been in a relationship reported experiencing violent or controlling behaviour from a partner – 19% of whom reported physical violence – while 20% of teenagers in relationships reported being pressured or focused into sexual activity against their will.

“Such experiences have a lifelong impact and determine future outcomes and relationships. It is critical we intervene early to prevent further harm or the escalation of abuse and stop harm happening in the first place by educating young people about healthy relationships, and ensuring parents and professionals feel confident to intercede.

“Our children deserve to grow up safely without fear of violence or harm. There is strong evidence that education works so this programme is about equipping young people with the insight and skills to recognise the red flags and to protect themselves, while also supporting parents, carers and educators to talk confidently to young people about risk and accessing help.”

The project has already delivered four practitioner workshops and two parental/carer sessions in Charnwood, while 13 peer mentors aged 11-25 with lived experience have been recruited to support activities.

Young people also co-produced a podcast and youth voice film which are central resources within the programme.

The project is helping to develop the evidence base around TRA through collaboration with a PhD researcher who is undertaking a large-scale Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland survey to support future focus groups and research activity.

It is also gaining international recognition through an invitation to present progress and learning at the most recent annual European Network on Gender and Violence in London.

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